BONUS - POTCHEFSTROOM - Copper and cable thieves should indeed think again before public/government infrastructure is looted - an offence that has grown into quite a lucrative industry in recent years. A 34-year-old Tebogo Simon Molapo was on Wednesday, 14 February 2024, sentenced by the Potchefstroom Regional Court to 12 years imprisonment for theft of copper cable.
Molapo's sentencing emanated from his arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning, 7 May 2023, for theft of copper cable in Dassierand, Potchefstroom.
Evidence presented in court revealed that a Security Officer was conducting patrols around the hospital premises when he saw an electric transformer standing open with some tools nearby. The inquisitive security officer was still looking around when three males jumped out from the tall grass where they were hiding and ran away. However, the security officer managed to arrest one of them. The security officer and his colleague summoned the police and the man, together with the tools and approximately 10 metres of copper cable valued at R5 000 were handed to the police. Upon being sentenced, four of the 12 years imprisonment was suspended for a period of five years on condition that the accused is not convicted of theft during the period of suspension.
The District Commissioner of Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, Major General Suzette Pretorius commended security officers for their alertness, which resulted in the arrest. She also thanked the Investigating Officer, D/Sergeant Magdeline Mothebe and the Prosecutor, Mrs Adele Horn, for the prompt investigation and prosecution which ascertained that the accused is sentenced within nine months after the crime.
