Ayabulela Nkole, a Gqeberha resident and member of Izinyoka, a criminal syndicate that steals power cables, has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars.
Nkole was arrested by the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro officers while pulling a power cable on Ngedle Street in Motherwell, Gqeberha in 2021.
The Motherwell Regional Court has convicted the 29-year-old on charges of tempering and destroying essential infrastructure and theft of ferrous or non-ferrous metal, which form part of essential infrastructure.
In court, Nkole pleaded not guilty. However, the evidence convinced the court of his guilt, and imposed the 15-year sentence.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the prosecutor argued that cable theft was a serious and prevalent offence, which has a crippling effect not only on the livelihoods of communities but on the economy of the country.
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, said the sentence must serve as a deterrent to other would-be cable thieves, who seem to be taking advantage of the current electricity crisis to deepen the suffering of the society.
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