On Tuesday, 7 November 2023, Madadeni Regional Court convicted and sentenced Sifiso Mchunu (45) for theft of tower batteries that happened at Madadeni area in June 2017.
Mchunu was arrested by Hawks members from Head Office Serious Organised Crime Investigation after they received information about the vehicle that was transporting tower batteries from Newcastle to Johannesburg. The vehicle was intercepted at Villiers and 32 tower batteries to the street value of approximately R192 000.00 were found. Newcastle Serious Organised Crime Investigation was alerted and it was established that the tower batteries were stolen from MTN and Vodacom towers at Madadeni area.
Mchunu and his accomplice, Phakamani Ncube (38) were arrested and charged for possession of property suspected to be stolen as well as damage to essential infrastructure. They appeared in court and were released on bail. Ncube pleaded guilty in August 2018 and was sentenced to five years direct imprisonment.
Mchunu continued with a trial until he was found guilty yesterday. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment of which five years is suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of theft during the period of suspension.
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