Thabong man faces 15 years imprisonment for tempering with essential infrastructure

On September 2021, the accused apparently cut a copper cable in the Thabong vicinity where Eskom employees were repairing overhead copper cables at one house.

According to the Lejweleputswa police spokesperson, captain Stephen Thakeng, the Thabong residents provided a description of the suspect to the Flying Squad police who attended to the copper cable theft complaint.

“Upon following up on the information from residents, the police were led to a house in Thabong where an African male matching the description was found,” added Thakeng.

The man confirmed to the police that he sold the copper to one of the scrap yards in Thabong.

In an attempt to recover the copper cable, the police visited the scrap yard and approached the dealer. Although the copper cable was already burnt, the police seized it as exhibit.

During the investigation, Eskom’s management pointed out the stolen 12-meter long copper cable called Airdeck with an estimated value of R5 000.

As a result, the 26-year-old suspect was charged for tempering with essential infrastructure and copper cable theft.

The case against Mokwantsi Kwanele Mfuku was assigned to detective warrant wfficer Mohapi Mokhoke of Infrastructure Task Team.

The Welkom Magistrate Court sentenced the accused to 15 years in jail for both of these charges.

The acting Lejweleputswa district commissioner, brigadier Mzondi Mojafi, applauded Thabong residents for assisting the police in tracing the suspect. He also applauded the Welkom Flying Squad for their swift response to the crime scene.