A Mozambican national will spend 15 years in jail for damaging infrastructure belonging to Transnet.

Almeida Alberto Ndeve (34) was sentenced in the Belfast Magistrate’s court.

He was also sentenced to an additional 12 months imprisonment for contravening the Immigration Act.

His conviction followed after a spike in copper cable thefts in the Fairview railway area in Machadodorp. Transnet increased their security patrols and in May 2024 Ndeve and a group of unknown suspects were caught cutting copper cables. His accomplices managed to flee, but Ndeve was apprehended on the scene and arrested.

It was also established that Ndeve was residing illegally in South Africa, leading to an additional charge under the Immigration Act. Ndeve pleaded guilty to the immigration charge but denied involvement in the cable theft.

State Advocate Makhosonke Mashinini led compelling evidence from security personnel who apprehended Ndeve and submitted the stolen copper cables as exhibits. A Transnet investigating officer also identified the recovered cables as property of the company. The court found the state witnesses credible and convicted Ndeve on both charges.

Ndeve was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and it was ordered that he be deported upon completion of his sentence.