Two men sentenced 10 years in jail for Prasa cable theft

The Pretoria North magistrate’s court has sentenced two Zimbabwean nationals, Namer Ndovu (27) and Collen Singanje (28), to 10 years in prison on a charge of tampering with essential infrastructure.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the two were caught with stolen copper on December 21, 2020 at Es’kia Mphahlele Drive in Wonderboom.

“Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) security guards caught the suspects in possession of eight pieces of signal copper cables.”

Mahanjana said the guards took the two and the cables to the police station to report the matter, where the men were arrested and have been held in custody since.

In court, they pleaded not guilty to the charges, however, state prosecutor Lufuno Manena proved the state’s case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The state called John Motswaledi, a corporate security investigator at Prasa, who told the court each cable was valued at R3 000.

“However, the crime committed had an impact of over R300 000 on the company because of what went into replacing and repairing the damage done,” Motswaledi told the court.

Manena said damage to essential infrastructure affected the economy, ordinary citizens and businesses.

He told the court it needed to protect the community by imposing a stiff sentence, which would deter not only the two suspects, but also those considering committing such crimes.

Manena also said imposing an appropriate sentence would restore faith in the justice system.

Magistrate Phogotlhe Motlang agreed.

Mahanjana said the NPA welcomed the sentence.

WATCH: 

ZIMBABWEAN NATIONALS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS DIRECT IMPRISONMENT FOR PRASA COPPER CABLE THEFT

The Pretoria North Magistrates Court sentenced two Zimbabwean nationals, Namer Ndovu (27) and Collen Singanje (28), to 10 years of direct imprisonment each for a charge of tampering with…

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) October 18, 2023

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