A court in South Africa sentenced two Mozambicans to 19 years in prison for stealing copper cables from an electricity plant in Mpumalanga province.
According to the South African police (SAPS) in Nelspruit, said in a statement that the court sentenced the Mozambican citizens, identified as Constantinople Mamuane, aged 23, and Afonso Manyesa, aged 25, for the criminal act.
“They were sentenced to 19 years in prison each for attempted robbery, tampering with essential infrastructure and violating the South African Immigration Act by the Emalahleni Magistrates Court on 8 September 2023”, said the statement cited by Lusa.
The incident, according to the security force, occurred in November 2020 at the Kendal plant, considered one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the world.
“It was heard in court that on 18 November 2020 there was a power failure at the Kendal power station on the ground floor. The security guards allegedly went to investigate and found the two accused in the act, cutting the copper cables”, says the note from the South African police.
The police investigation produced “compelling evidence”, presented in court by the Public Prosecutor's Office, he stressed.
“The sentence should serve as a deterrent to others who continue to steal cables, taking advantage of the current electricity crisis,” said Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, quoted in the statement.
