Calcutta – Nombango Claudia Mgiba, who melted Eskom cables to make giant pots, has been found guilty and sentenced by the Calcutta Regional Court in Mpumalanga for possession of stolen property.
The pot maker was arrested on 28 January 2024 at her home in the Calcutta-Mkhuhlu area after police acted on a tip-off.
The accused was arrested during a search and seizure operation conducted by the Hawks and other police officers.
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The law enforcers uncovered a roll of Eskom aluminum cables concealed under a black tarpaulin, next to the accused’s house.
Other small rolls of Eskom cables were found in a trench next to a wall covered with a black tarpaulin that was marked “Transnet”.
Eskom security was summoned and confirmed that the cables belonged to Eskom.
The cables had an estimated value of R30 000.
Aluminum pots of varying sizes were found in the accused’s yard indicating that the cables were melted down and turned into cooking implements.
After her arrest, Mgiba, was brought before the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court on 1 February 2024, facing charges of possession of suspected stolen property.
She was released on R5 000 bail.
The accused appeared in court on several occasions and she was found guilty and convicted on 28 October 2024.
The accused appeared at Calcutta Regional Court on Thursday, (21 November 2024), and was sentenced to a fine of R10 000 or five years in prison.
