Constable Themba Ezekiel Ham from the Bekkersdal Police Detectives, who managed to get an infamous thief behind bars is glad that the community of Bekkersdal will finally be at peace.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald, the 29-year-old Ham, who joined the Police Service in 2018 said investigating Thabo Thebe took years of sleepless nights, hard work and dedication, at times even going beyond the call of duty so that he could remove the 35-year-old from the streets.
Sergeant Linkie Lefakane said Thebe had been a nuisance to the community for the last six years and topped the list of the most wanted criminals in their precinct for terrorising the community with his misdeeds.
We’re proud that it was one of our own officers who worked tirelessly to make sure that our streets are safer once more. Constable Ham has done an excellent job, but we do not forget all those who were part of the investigations,” Lefakane said.
After six years of breaking in and stealing from the residents of Bekkersdal, the Westonaria Magistrates’ Court sentenced Thebe to five years direct imprisonment without any parole for various cases of theft.
Ham said he wouldn’t have achieved this outcome if it wasn’t for a good coordination between him, his colleagues and the prosecuting team at the Westonaria Magistrates’ Court.
“Everyone who assisted in this matter helped to make my work smooth; also not forgetting my fellow colleagues in the police who guided and mentored me,” Ham said.
He added that he was satisfied with the verdict and the sentence by the magistrate because it would finally put the community at ease.
The law has made an example of Thebe and I think his sentence will send a strong message to other criminals that we don’t tolerate crime in our communities,” Ham said.
