The Westonaria Magistrates’ Court recently sentenced two brothers, who are illegal immigrants, to eight years in prison for railway line theft in May this year.
Letsonane Jeremane, 28, and his younger brother, Thabang Letsoane, 21, were sentenced for a crime committed on May 17 near Cooke 2 Mine in Westonaria.
Bekkersdal Police spokesperson Sergeant Linkie Lefakane said the siblings were nabbed near an open veld during a police operation. Three other suspects managed to get away.
They were arrested and charged with being in possession of stolen property. Preliminary investigations also revealed the two were illegal immigrants and had no fixed addresses. They were denied bail until they were sentenced,” Sergeant Lefakane added.
Bekkersdal Police station commander Colonel Phumele Matamela applauded the justice system and the police for making sure that perpetrators were brought to book for inconveniencing commuters who were affected by the theft of railway infrastructure.
