Court cases concluded in Brakpan Regional Court
These cases were concluded in December.
• Nelson Mathabela (24) was arrested on August 15, 2023 for theft and illegal immigration. He was tried and sentenced in the Brakpan Regional Court on December 5, 2023.
Mathabela initially pleaded not guilty on the first and second counts of tampering with infrastructure and theft, and guilty on the count of illegal immigration, but was found guilty on all counts.
Mathabela removed and stole four solar panels from the Brakpan Library to the value of R30 000. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each on count one and two, to run concurrently, and one year on count three.
• Simbongile Gumede (33) was arrested on December 9, 2022, right after murdering his partner in a domestic dispute, and attempting to murder a neighbour who tried to step in and help the victim.
He pleaded not guilty in the Brakpan Regional Court on August 16, 2023, but was found guilty on both counts on November 20, 2023. On December 6, 2023, he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the murder of Noluthando Ngubo, and four years for the attempted murder of Nyasha Kadango.
The four years were ordered to be run concurrently with the 20 years, and he was declared unfit to posses a firearm.
