Four men have been sentenced in the Westonaria Regional Court for stealing railway infrastructure in October last year.
Raymond Hlungwane, 26, Shishange Luwig, 29, and Obert Chauke, 26 will be serving a prison sentence of four years, and Sam Parava, 27, will serve five years.
According to Sergeant Linkie Lefakane, the Bekkersdal Police spokesperson, the men were arrested on 28 October 2020 during a police operation in Zuurbekom.
“After the police stopped the truck the suspects were travelling in, the four men suddenly abandoned it and attempted to flee. However, the police managed to capture all of them,” Lefakane said.
During the arrest, police discovered 36 pieces of railway trails, reinforcement rings, and gas and compressed oxygen bottles used during the crime.
Lefakane said vandalism and theft of railway infrastructure often leave many people stranded and desperate, and warned that those involved in the trade will be prosecuted.
“It is a serious criminal offence punishable by law to be found in possession of railway infrastructure,” Lefakane warned.
Colonel Phumelele Matamela, the Bekkersdal Police station commander commended the sentence and also thanked the prosecuting team for ridding the community of thugs who prey on public infrastructure.
