ERMELO – A 28-year-old man, Batsheleni Dladla, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for damaging essential infrastructure belonging to the Msukaligwa Local Municipality. The Ermelo Regional Court handed down the sentence after finding Dladla guilty.

The incident occurred on May 28, 2023, when members of the community policing forum (CPF) were patrolling Chris de Villiers Street in Sun City, Ermelo.

They discovered Dladla at a mini-substation, its door open, and him in possession of a side cutter, cutting cables. He attempted to escape but was apprehended by the CPF and handed over to the police.

Dladla pleaded not guilty in court, claiming he was trying to steal from a location 10 metres away from the substation.

However, State Prosecutor Chané Rothman presented compelling evidence, including an eyewitness account of Dladla’s actions and photographic evidence of the damage inside the substation.

The court dismissed Dladla’s version of events and found him guilty.

Read the complete article in Highvelder.