Limpopo SAPS commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the sentencing of four men, aged between 31 and 35, for tampering with and destroying essential infrastructure in Limpopo.

The accused were sentenced in the Thabazimbi Regional Court yesterday.

The court heard that on May 10, 2023, at 23:20, the four accused – Nelson Chama (31), Artwell Chakaraya (31), Blessing Mathongo (35) and Ophius Marindire (32) – cut cables from a Transnet railway line that was connected to Dwaalboom.

This was discovered by a security guard who was patrolling the area. During his patrol, the guard noticed suspicious activity when he passed the Swartkip crossing. He stopped his vehicle, checked and found that 500m of solar copper cables, valued at R200 000, had been stolen.

Police went to the scene and a case of tampering with and destroying essential infrastructure was opened.

The suspects were arrested in the Brits the same day. They were found in possession of suspected stolen copper cables. They were also linked to a case of stolen copper cables in the Northam policing area.

The case was assigned to Constable Foster Mabeba from the Essential Infrastructure Task Team for further investigation.

Yesterday, the accused were sentenced as follows:

• Count 1: Tampering with and destroying essential infrastructure (30 years of direct imprisonment).
• Count 2: Theft of ferrous or non-ferrous metals (15 years of direct imprisonment).
• Count 3: Failure to use a port of entry (two years of direct imprisonment).
• Count 4: Contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002: Entering the country without passports (two years of direct imprisonment). –SAnews.gov.za