North man sentenced to 10 years in prison for cable theft
Ofentse Kau was spotted through surveillance cameras at the Ga-Rankuwa industrial site, in possession of 400m commercial copper cable. He was apprehended by Eskom security personnel.
The Ga-Rankuwa regional court sentenced Ofentse Kau (36) to 10 years in prison for cable theft.
According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Henry Mamothame, Kau was arrested by Eskom security officers in October 2022.
“Kau was spotted through surveillance cameras at the Ga-Rankuwa industrial site, in possession of 400m commercial copper cable,” said Mamothame.
Mamothame said Kau was subsequently handed to the police and charged with cable theft.
“He pleaded guilty to the offence and the court also denied him bail.”
In aggravation of the sentence, state prosecutor, Advocate Mummy Mosonodi urged the court to consider the load-shedding crisis the country is experiencing as a result of cable theft.
Mosonodi further alluded to the financial implications of Eskom as a main provider of electricity.
Magistrate Marianne Wessel agreed and imposed a 15-year jail term, with suspension effectively sending Kau to 10 years in jail.
North West director of public prosecutions, Dr Rachel Makhari lauded the prosecutor, detective Sergeant Tshepo Phale of the SAPS and Eskom security officers, for bringing the perpetrator to book.
She alluded to the detriment brought by such offences to the economic growth of the country.
Makhari highlighted the importance of preventing and combating economic crimes to protect the economy and encourage investment and job creation.
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