By Ziyah News Court Reporter
Upington, Northern Cape– Four Zimbabwean nationals were hit with a heavy sentence of years for theft essential infrastructure and contravention of the immigration Act.
The four Mbonisi Ndlovu (27), Doubt Mlilo (28), Mbonisi Dube (33), Mduduzi Ndlovu (23), and Gundo Masikhiwa (26) were convicted and sentenced by the Upington Regional Court after they were charged with theft of essential infrastructure (solar batteries), theft of non-ferrous metal (copper cables) and Contravention of the Immigration Act (entering and remaining in the RSA illegally).
The court heard that on 29 July 2023, at the farm Eensaam Kasteel in Askham near the town of Upington, the police received intelligence intel that there were suspicious men near the cellphone tower, and they swiftly reacted to the information. When they arrived at the Vodacom cellphone tower, the police found the accused in possession of the stolen essential infrastructure items. They were arrested and charged in connection with the theft of 2 Vodacom cell tower batteries and copper cables. It was later determined that Mbonisi Ndlovu, Doubt Mlilo, Mbonisi Dube, and Mduduzi Ndlovu were Zimbabwe nationals, and had entered and remained within the borders of South Africa illegally.
In aggravation of the sentence, Advocate Zelma Beukes argued that the sentence should reflect the serious impact that theft and damage to essential infrastructure has on the delivery of services to South African Citizens.
The National Prosecuting Authority says reaching emergency services and other essential services has been negatively impacted because of theft and damage to essential infrastructure.
“The theft and damage had dire repercussions and negative economic impact on cellular service providers, who continued to suffer losses amounting to billions annually through theft and vandalism of their infrastructure. The sentence should also send a message to would-be offenders, that theft of essential infrastructure will not be tolerated by our courts, and this sentiment must be echoed with harsh punishments that fit both the crime and the criminal.”
“These cases affect service delivery and deprive the community of basic services hence the NPA will adopt a focused approach that ensures that after conviction harsher sentences are imposed and where the kingpins are found asset forfeiture is brought in.”
The accused were all found guilty, and they were each subsequently sentenced to undergo 10 years imprisonment for the theft of the batteries, 9 months imprisonment for the theft of the cables, and accused 1 to 4 were sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for the Contravention of the Immigration Act.