Lekwa Local Municipality welcomed a 15-year sentence imposed this week on a man who, in 2022, tampered with Eskom copper cables supplying electricity to households in Morgenzon.

Municipal spokesman, Lubabalo Majenge, said the municipal management hopes this judgement will send a strong message to those who vandalise public infrastructure.

This reaction follows the announcement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) this week that the Standerton Regional Court sentenced Ncanawe Andrew Mngomezulu (45) to 15 years’ direct imprisonment.

Mngomezulu was observed on the night of May 19, 2022, cutting Eskom copper cables supplying electricity from an electric pole to a woman’s house.

The barking of a neighbour’s dog woke up the woman and she realised there was no electricity. She looked through the window and saw a person whom she identified as Mngomezulu.

When Mngomezulu noticed that the complainant had seen him, he fled the scene. The complainant informed her brother about the incident and subsequently reported the matter to the police and Eskom, leading to Mngomezulu’s arrest.

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In court, Mngomezulu pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations. He tried to smear the woman with claims that she accepted money from him in exchange for sex.

To prove Mngomezulu’s guilt, the prosecution, led by prosecutor Thabani Mkhabela, presented credible evidence from the complainant, who testified about what she observed on the day of the incident.

The witness added that she remained without electricity for a month, waiting for Eskom to repair the damage. An Eskom technician also testified, confirming that the damaged copper cable was Eskom property.

The technician further testified regarding the extent of the damage and the cable’s replacement value. Monica Nyuswa, NPA regional spokesperson in Mpumalanga, said the state successfully rebutted the accused’s alibi and demonstrated that it was a recent fabrication.

The court found the complainant to be a reliable and credible witness and convicted Mngomezulu as charged.

“In mitigation of sentence, the defence argued for a lesser sentence, submitting that there were substantial and compelling circumstances warranting a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence.

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“The state opposed the request and submitted that the accused had been convicted of a prevalent offence that undermines service delivery efforts to communities”

Prosecutor Mkhabela highlighted that vandalism of essential infrastructure has far-reaching consequences beyond the financial losses suffered by Eskom.

The disruption also adversely affected the complainant’s quality of life and forced her to relocate while the electricity supply remained out of service.

Nyuswa said the court considered the mitigating and aggravating factors and emphasised that crimes of this nature require appropriate punishment that fits both the offence and the circumstances surrounding its commission.

Mngomezulu was sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment and was automatically declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Nyuswa said the NPA welcomes the sentence, which demonstrates that the courts will impose serious consequences on those who vandalised essential infrastructure and disrupted the delivery of critical services to communities.

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Majenge said the municipality condemns the scourge of tampering with public infrastructure, whether the property of the municipality or of Eskom. The theft of cables leaves the community without basic services and vulnerable.

“The municipality has challenges of repairing street lights, which only work for a few weeks before someone tries to steal the cables. This takes us backwards, because we have to spend yet again more money to repair them again.”

Standerton Advertiser often report on acts of vandalism. Such was the case in February, when communities were once again left powerless by vandals and cable thieves.

At the time, Majenge said the vandalism targeted critical electrical infrastructure. Criminals damaged mini substations and stole electrical conductors and cables, resulting in service disruptions to affected communities.

He explained that replacing these essential infrastructure parts after the criminals damaged them was a costly affair.

“The municipality is losing more by constantly replacing these pieces of essential infrastructure when stolen or vandalised,” said Majenge.

Thieves have become so brazen that they dig up electrical cables at intersections and on sidewalks. Majenge said in February that taxpayers suffer the most from this crime. Several households spend days without electricity as a direct consequence of damaged infrastructure.

According to Majenge, the community may be without electricity for days or months if the municipality lacks the necessary equipment or materials to perform damage control at affected substations or electrical lines.

Majenge explained that vandalism of essential infrastructure can cause network trips at the main substations, which can affect additional areas of the community before the damaged areas are isolated. In some instances, this can cause explosions and fire.