PRETORIA – A group of seven convicted essential infrastructure thieves are set to spend seven years behind bars each after the Camperdown Magistarte’s Court sentenced them yesterday.

Thembinkosi Ngema (40), Nhlakanipho Nkhwanazi (33) Njabulo Ncube (32) Mandla Mpanza (45) Sipho Nkhwanazi (49) Mlamuli Mntungwana (38) and Sabelo Mathola (32), were arrested in the early hours of 12 January 2022, after security guards stopped three suspicious vehicles along Manderstone road between Camperdown and Richmond with the help of local police.

The vehicles were searched and pieces of railway tracks were found loaded. The Pietermaritzburg based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team was called in to process the scene. The group was consequently charged with tampering with essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen property.

The group pleaded guilty and were sentenced to ten years imprisonment of which three years thereof is suspended for five years provided they do not commit a similar crime during the period of suspension. All seven were further declared unfit to possess firearms in the future. Three light delivery vehicles, Toyota Hilux, Mahindra and a Ford Ranger that were used in the commission of crime have since been referred to Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) for a retention order.

Source: South African Police Service