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Media Statement EASTERN CAPE –The East London Regional court has sentenced June Kholekile Gqomfa (51), for damage to essential infrastructure, theft of tower batteries and possession of stolen goods on 13 March 2025. Gqomfa was arrested in a joint efforts consists of Queenstown Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Queenstown K9 members in August 2021. He was remanded in custody ever since his arrest. On 2 August 2021, the joint team received information about a suspicious white Isuzu bakkie that was travelling between East London and Queenstown at N6, transporting Telkom tower batteries. Information received by team, prompted a swift action leading to a stop and search operation to intercept the vehicle at N6. The team tried to stop the vehicle and it fled. Thereafter, a chase ensued towards the direction of R61 towards Cofimvaba. The joint team managed to stop the said vehicle near Bridge Camp in Cofimvaba, and it was searched. Upon searching, the team recovered various types of tower batteries at the back of the vehicle and were seized. Preliminary investigation established that the tower batteries were stolen from different areas around East London. Gqomfa was the driver of a Isuzu bakkie, he was arrested on the spot and charged accordingly for damage to essential infrastructure as well as possession of stolen tower batteries. He appeared in court the following day of his arrest where he was remanded in custody. Gqomfa made several court appearances in an attempt to be granted bail, but in vain. Cases of damage to essential infrastructure linked to Gqomfa were combined, hence his sentencing was done the by East London Regional court on 13 March 2025. Gqomfa was sentenced to undergo 4 years direct imprisonment and was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Ends
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