Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
A 35-YEAR-OLD Zimbabwean man has been jailed for three years by a South African court after being found in possession of a stolen 25-metre 20-pair aerial Telkom SA cable valued at R520.
Thabiso Mafempi was initially jailed for five years by the Gqeberha Regional Court after being convicted of possession of stolen essential infrastructure.
Mafempi was arrested on June 2, 2024 at Olive Lane in Lovemore Park, Gqeberha, South Africa by Tacnet Security and a report was lodged with police.
A representative from Combined Private Investigations, an entity contracted by Telkom SA, then made a follow-up.
It then discovered that the recovered cable belonged to Telkom SA and that no individual or company, apart from its officially appointed service provider, Sindawonye, an entity contracted by Telkom SA, was authorised to possess, transport, or interfere with its copper cables or infrastructure.
Mafempi was then taken to court on June 5, 2024 and was denied bail. He later pleaded guilty to the offence after spending a year in custody.
