WESTERN CAPE – Calisto Chadereka (31), Thutu Khomoge (31) and Sakhele Nicholas Magubudela (31) have appeared in the Riversdale Magistrates’ court on Monday, 14 February 2022, after they were charged on Tuesday, 15 February 2021 for theft and tempering with essential infrastructure.
It is alleged that on 01 July 2021 the Heidelberg SAPS reacted on information about a vehicle travelling along N2 with possible MTN cell phone tower batteries.
The members upon searching the vehicle found 4x MTN cell phone lithium batteries with an estimated value of R100 000. The trio has been in custody since their arrest.
This was after they were denied bail on 02 September 2021 by the Riversdale Magistrates’ court.
The suspects were then questioned and during preliminary investigation, they failed to give adequate reason as to why the property came to be in their possession. The trio was instantly arrested.
Members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in George, were then informed about the arrests which led in the Hawks’ taking over the investigation.
The Hawks’ thorough intensive investigation established that the trio operated as a syndicate responsible for a number of thefts and tempering with essential infrastructure in the Western Cape.
Evidence was gathered and consultation with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) culminated in charging the trio with nine (9) additional cases of theft and tempering with essential infrastructure.
The trio remains in custody and the matter was remanded to 16 March 2021 for a Regional court date.
Source: South African Police Service