To illegal immigrants aged 33 and 37 were sentenced to eight years imprisonment for theft of cable and three months imprisonment or a fine of R5000 for being in the country illegally, by the Moretele magistrate court on 28 September 2022.
Sergeant Herman Moremi of Corporate Communication Temba SAPS said the suspects were arrested on 29 June 2018 at around 02:00 in the morning when they were busy stealing copper cables in two schools, at Reneilwe primary and Lefofa primary in Temba. Police were doing patrols when they received information about four men who were busy digging cables at school and they swiftly responded to the information.
“On arrival at the scene, the police saw four men running towards the sports ground at Lefofa primary school carrying digging tools. A police dog was released and managed to catch one of the suspects and the other one stopped to surrender, and the other two managed to escape.
“The Police found them in possession of digging tools and 13 thirteen-metre Telekom cables valued at R10 000. It was discovered that both men were in the country illegally and they were charged with theft of cable and being in the country illegally,’ he said.
The docket was assigned to Warrant Officer Hendrick Masilo of Temba SAPS detectives for further investigation and he managed to prove both charges against the suspects in court. They appeared in the Moretele magistrate court on 28 September 2022 where they were found guilty on both counts and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for theft of cables and three months imprisonment or a fine of R5000 for being in the country illegally.
The station Commander Brigadier Johannes Tau welcomed the conviction of eight years imprisonment and wishes that justice can issue a different sentence rather than a fine on illegal immigrants.
“They should be deported back home after serving their sentences, not be allowed to roam the streets where they will continue to commit other crimes.”
“We have registered several cases of theft of cables and breaking at schools and police are doing their best to arrest culprits.
“As long as we work together with the community, we will be able to prevent the damage of infrastructure in our area and breakings at school,” he said.