The Ermelo Regional Court on Friday sentenced an Ermelo police officer and his son to imprisonment after finding them guilty of stock theft and the unlawful use of a state vehicle.
Members of the police’s Stock Theft and Crime Investigation Units arrested Themba Amos Khulase (45) and his son, 30-year-old Mxolisi Marvelous Shabangu, in the Ermelo CBD on 1 August 2014 after five sheep were found in the back of a police vehicle driven by Khulase.
At the time, Khulase was a warrant officer in the police’s Ermelo Vehicle Theft Unit. The arrests came after a late night surveillance operation by police.
The sheep were part of an “order” for 17 sheep that was being carried out by Khulase.
Regional Court Magistrate S. Hallatt sentenced Khulase, who masterminded the scheme, to a total of 17 years’ imprisonment, 15 years for stock theft and two years for unlawful use of a state vehicle. The sentences will run concurrently.
Shabangu was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for his part in the crime.
The convictions and subsequent sentencing come as a welcome relief for members of the police’s Stock Theft and Crime Investigation Units after a prolonged legal process in which the case was postponed 19 times.
In a statement issued by the police’s Corporate Communication Directorate (Mpumalanga), the Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, said he welcomed the sentences as imposed by the court.
He said this would serve as a deterrent to other police officers who might want to engage in criminal activities as well as to criminals in general.
He applauded the investigating team for their persistent and diligent work in securing a successful conviction.
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