Kimberley – Twenty-one-year-old cable thief David van Wyk has been sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison by the Kimberley Regional Court, Northern Cape.
Van Wyk was convicted of tampering with essential infrastructure.
The matter goes back to 2 March 2024 when the accused was arrested after he was found cutting earth cable from the Transnet rail lines.
The cable had an estimated value of R2 200.
The accused was arrested and charged with tampering with essential infrastructure.
As a sign of the seriousness of how the prosecution views these types of crimes, the accused bail application was successfully opposed.
Van Wyk has been remanded in custody until the conclusion of his case this week.
In aggravation of the sentence, Regional Court Prosecutor Dineo Mathule highlighted the prevalence of the offence.
The prosecutor said cable theft was now a national problem that has become so serious that legislation was enacted to allow it to fall within the ambit of the minimum legislation.
The prosecutor further argued the importance of the courts to sentence perpetrators of such crimes to appropriate sentences which will send a clear message to other transgressors, that the government is serious about fighting essential infrastructure-related crimes.
In sentencing, the court found that there were substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, and the accused was sentenced to 14 years and six months of direct imprisonment.
Commenting on the matter, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson, Northern Cape Division, said: “These cases affect service delivery and deprive the community of basic services hence the NPA will adopt a focused approach that ensures that after conviction harsher sentences are imposed.
