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Joint Media Statement POTCHEFSTROOM – The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director for Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari are elated by the meticulous investigation and prosecution that led to imposing of 20 years direct imprisonment on David Mathebula (55) for tampering with, damaging to essential infrastructure, two counts of theft and house breaking. The accused was sentenced by the Ganyesa Regional Court on Thursday, 19 September 2024. Mathebula who was wanted in various Provinces including North West, was arrested by the Free State Organised Crime on Tuesday, 23 May 2023, at Vrede, after the provincial Organised Crime unit stopped a suspicious vehicle in which Mathebula was a passenger. Upon searching the car, the police found tower batteries. He was eventually handed over to North West and charged on crimes committed in Morokweng, Bray, Taung and Schweizer-Reneke between June 2014 and October 2018. At the time of the conviction, Mathebula, was serving a combined 34 years imprisonment after being sentenced in the provinces of Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In aggravation of sentence, State Prosecutor Mosimanegape Watson urged the court to impose the maximum sentence to the accused because he has previous convictions of the same offence. Watson believed that these crimes were an act of sabotage because his actions were affecting service delivery in various departments and municipalities. Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the Investigating Officer, D/Sergeant Thapelo Pelele, the Prosecutor, Mr Watson as well as everyone involved in the arrest, prosecution and subsequent conviction of the habitual offender. They indicate that the sentence will definitely serve as an indication that crime does not pay as well as the significance of entities’ collaboration in the fight against criminality. Ends
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