This week, for the first time ever, five cable thieves were collectively sentenced to 140 years in jail on charges of theft and contravention of the Organised Crime Act.
This week, for the first time ever, five cable thieves were collectively sentenced to 140 years in jail on charges of theft and contravention of the Organised Crime Act.
Cable theft syndicate leader Americo Njango and four others learned their fate in the Circuit Court in Kroonstad on Monday (22 February).
The five men – Njango, Thabo Mandlas, Orlando Mathebula, Themba Masiya and James Malope were arrested on 4 June 2014 following a tip off after it was discovered that 10 span overhead catenaries were stolen in the Bosrand area, Free State.
The thefts occurred mainly in the Free State and Mpumalanga Provinces affecting not only Eskom equipment, but Transnet, Telkom and local Municipalities as well.
The accused stood trial from 25 January 2016 and were sentenced as follows:
Njango – 48 years imprisonment on eight counts of theft and one of organised crime.
Mandla – 44 years imprisonment on five counts of theft and one of organised crime.
Mathebula – 15 years imprisonment on a count of theft.
Masiya – 16 years imprisonment on a count of theft.
Malope – 17 years imprisonment on a count of theft.
Eskom loses over R2 billion a year due to electricity theft. The losses suffered by the country as a whole when including municipalities, is at least double the Eskom figure.
Eskom say they are taking steps to combat cable theft in collaboration with the joint industry working group formed by Eskom, Transnet, Telkom, the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, Business Against Crime and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
