The Boksburg Magistrate’s Court recently handed a gang of five cable thieves long jail terms each for vandalising and stealing telecommunications infrastructure in Dawn Park.
Steward Somana (49), Mzoxolo Xakatha (39), Bekani Mazibuko (31), Ndimphiwe Zwidala (27) and Tolo Boitumelo (28), all from Orange Farm, stole a 180m copper cable, property of Telkom and/or Frank Magero.
They were each sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
This comes after the five men were arrested and charged with tempering, damaging or destroying essential infrastructure or colluding or assisting another person to do so on June 4, 2018.
Alternative to count one: theft – on June 4, 2018, the accused stole 180m of copper cable to the value of R64 000 from Telkom and/or Frank Magero.
Second alternative to count one: possession of stolen property – on June 4, 2018, the accused were found in possession of the stolen goods, 180m of copper cable to the value of R64 000.
The accused unlawfully and intentionally while acting in the furtherance of a common purpose tempered with or damaged or destroyed essential infrastructure copper material or equipment and or cable, which was at the time of the commission of the offence used to provide telephone, data and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The court found that the accused knew or ought to reasonably have known or suspected that it was essential infrastructure at the time of the commission of the offence.
They dug out the cable, cut it and pulled it out using a bakkie.
Magistrate Siren Harichand presided and prosecutor Nkosazana Tyeku represented the State.
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