By OBAKENG MAJE
Three men were sentenced to 17 years imprisonment by the Tlhabane Regional Court in Rustenburg for copper cable theft on 2 May 2023. Ngangile Singatha (35), Phindile Mbokole (41), and Isaac Obisse (25) were subsequently arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation on 5 October 2022 at Impala Platinum Mine after they were spotted by mine security on the security cameras.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said: “The trio reportedly struggled to walk, and upon searching the accused, the police discovered that they had each wrapped copper cable around their bodies with a combined weight of 180kg. Bail was successfully opposed during their first appearance and they made a series of court appearances until they were convicted.
“Mbokole was sentenced to six years’ direct imprisonment, while Singatha and Obisse were each sentenced to five years direct imprisonment. Obisse was further sentenced to an additional twelve months’ direct imprisonment.”
The Guardian 