By AGISANANG SCUFF
8 September 2025- Kimberley Regional Court sentenced one of the accused persons who were arrested for theft of firearms and ammunition at Petrusville Police Station on 6 November 2023. The conviction comes after the accused, Benjamin Motsoane, pleaded guilty as charged.
Motsoane was arrested alongside five other accused persons.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said a multi-disciplinary operation consisting of Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, Crime Intelligence and Kimberley Flying Squad, arrested the group in June 2024, during a marathon tracking and arrests of identified suspects which included two police Sergeants aged 43 and 44, at Petrusville Police Station.
Thebe said during November 2023, a complaint was received from the office of the Provincial Commissioner regarding theft of firearms and ammunition at Petrusville Police Station.
“A case docket was opened with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation team for probing. Firearms were later recovered in Senekal and Marquad, Free State.
“Furthermore, investigation revealed that two police officers working at Petrusville SAPS were involved during the theft of state firearms. This matter was taken to the Director of Public Prosecutor for decision and it was concluded that five suspects must stand trial for theft, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
“Moreover, the trial against the rest of the accused will proceed on 17 – 21 November 2025 in the De Aar Regional Court,” he said.
Thebe further said the accused was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for theft of firearms and ammunition, five years for unlawful possession of a firearm without a licence, 13 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm – fully automatic firearm without a licence and two years imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition and five years imprisonment for Contravention of Section 4 (a) and or (b), read with sections 1 and 8 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Act 121 of 1998, (5) years imprisonment.
He added Motsoane was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the Northern Cape, Major General Stephen Mabuela, welcomes the sentence in this important case.
“Stealing from the police station and being aided by our own members, that is the biggest betrayal which borders on treason. We hope for hefty sentences for other accused,” said Mabuela.
The Guardian 