File
Four people were each sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure, and theft of copper cables.
Thabo Lekhari (37), Morena Mota (30), Lehlohonolo Mokoena (30), and Lebohang Lekometso (30) were sentenced in the Edenburg Regional Court in Bloemfontein on Tuesday to 15 years for tampering with essential infrastructure and a further 15 years for the theft of copper cables.
According to the police, the four were apprehended on the N1 highway near Trompsburg by the Trompsburg Highway Patrol on 5 June last year while driving in a VW Golf to Bloemfontein.
Members stopped the vehicle and found stolen copper cables and various tools and implements.
A case of tampering with essential infrastructure and theft of copper cables was opened and assigned to the Organised Crime team who established that the copper was stolen at the Transnet substation in Bethulie.
Transnet employees managed to positively identify the stolen cables.
The damage caused to the infrastructure amounted to R6.5 million, and the stolen copper was worth R 180 300, 00.
