Two men found guilty of theft and possession of a suspected stolen vehicle have been given a suspended sentence.
The two were arrested in Randburg after being found in possession of a Ford Bantam. They pleaded guilty to the charges and in their affidavits read out by their legal representatives, the two admitted that they had planned to sell the vehicle.
They said they had received the vehicle from one of their friends in Rustenburg who told them that the vehicle was stolen.
In their affidavits, they stated that they had agreed to sell the car for R8 000 in Randburg and share the money among themselves. They drove the vehicle from Rustenburg and were stopped by a vehicle tracking company somewhere in Randburg and were arrested shortly after that by the police.
When handing down the sentence, Magistrate Gayle Pretorius noted that the two were illegal, undocumented foreigners.
She told the two accused that there was a reason why the government needed all people living in the country to be documented.
“Proper documentation enables the government to plan properly when it comes to things like health, education, housing and other things,” Pretorius said.
She pointed out that undocumented people were placing an immense burden on the South African infrastructure.
The magistrate also lambasted the pair for committing a crime in a foreign country and taking advantage of the hospitality of the host country. “If you came to South Africa for a better life, you must do it properly.
You must pay your way to obtain things. Nothing falls from the sky,” Pretorious said, adding that the country did not need extra people to add to the already high crime statistics.
The two men were sentenced to eight years’ direct imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that they were not found guilty of crimes which among others include robbery, housebreaking and theft.
The magistrate also declared the pair unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the firearms control act.
In sentencing, Pretorius took into consideration that there was no actual loss to the complainant as the vehicle was returned undamaged and added that the two thieves were first-time offenders.
The two will be released into the custody of immigration services for possible deportation.
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