Mkhuhlu woman sentenced for possession of stolen Eskom cables
A woman manufactured aluminium pots by smelting stolen cables.
Nombango Claudia Mgiba was found guilty and sentenced for the possession of stolen Eskom cables.
She was sentenced by the Calcutta Regional Court on Thursday, November 21.
As her sentence, she can decide between paying a fine of R10 000 or accepting a suspended imprisonment of five years.
This sentencing follows Mgiba’s arrest during a search and seizure operation conducted by the Mpumalanga Hawks and the SAPS in Mkhuhlu on January 28.
A provincial Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said the team found several aluminium pots manufactured by smelting the cables, which had an estimated value of R30 800.
“She was arrested, charged and detained. She appeared in court on January 29 and was granted bail on February 2. She made several court appearances until she was found guilty and convicted on October 28 and now sentenced,” Sekgotodi said.
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The Mpumalanga Hawks’ head, Major General Nico Gerber, has applauded the investigative team for securing the sentence.
“South Africans are too familiar with the daily theft of copper cables and other items from infrastructure meant to contribute to the smooth running of the county. We urge the public to refrain from such behaviours and to report the incidents to law enforcement agencies,” he said.
