ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THEFT

27 JUNE 2025

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THEFT

The Bloemfontein Regional Court has sentenced Mathokoa Sebaka (51), a Lesotho national to an effective 18 years of direct imprisonment for damaging essential infrastructure after he was caught red-handed stealing underground copper cables belonging to Telkom.

Sebaka was arrested on 04 November 2023 on Victoria Road in Bloemfontein after members of the South African Police Service caught him in the act of digging out the copper cable, which was valued at approximately R5,000. Investigations confirmed that the accused was also an illegal immigrant residing in the country unlawfully.
He was subsequently charged with damage to essential infrastructure, theft from infrastructure, and contravention of the Immigration Act.

On 25 June 2025, Sebaka pleaded guilty and was convicted on two charges. The court sentenced him to 18 years’ imprisonment for the infrastructure-related offence. On the immigration charge, he was sentenced to a fine of R5,000 or 6 months’ imprisonment.

During aggravation of sentence, the prosecutor, Amore Coetzee argued for the imposition of a firm sentence to send a strong message to others, especially foreign nationals who cross into South Africa to commit serious crimes that threaten the country's economy, public safety, and critical infrastructure.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) commends the collaborative work of Sergeant Sochenwa, the Investigating Officer in the matter, and the team from Telkom, represented by Peet van der Berg for their cooperation throughout the case.

This sentence underscores the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) uncompromising resolve to defend the integrity of essential public services and crush cross-border criminal activity. These crimes sabotage service delivery and rob communities of their basic rights, and the NPA will not stand idle. We will pursue a hardline, targeted approach, pushing for maximum sentences upon conviction and ensuring that key perpetrators, especially kingpins are identified, dismantled, and stripped of their criminal assets through aggressive asset forfeiture. The NPA is intensifying its efforts; this is a warning to those who threaten the public good - we will find you, prosecute you, and make sure you pay.

Issued by:

Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Free State Division
MSenokoatsane@npa.gov.za
073 423 3539