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Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Taung man gets 12 years for blowing up sewerage infrastructure
An act of sabotage that blew up a vital sewerage transformer — and left the perpetrator injured — has landed a 23-year-old man from Taung behind bars for 12 years. On Thursday, 29 May, the Taung Regional Court sentenced 23-year-old Karabo Mocumi of Dithakwaneng Village to 12 years' direct imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to damaging essential infrastructure. Cost of sabotage Mocumi's ill-advised decision to cut a copper cable connected to a sewerage transformer on 06 April 2024 in Reivilo, near Taung, backfired spectacularly when the transformer exploded, injuring him and disrupting vital community services. According to the NPA, residents who rushed to the scene found Mocumi still at the wreckage scene. Emergency services were called and the injured saboteur was taken to hospital before being arrested and released on R500 bail. In court, Mocumi pleaded guilty. State prosecutor Rebaona Mokgopa argued that crimes such as these weren't just reckless; they were rampant and fuelled South Africa's infamous energy crisis — load shedding — which had wreaked havoc on service delivery and the economy. Magistrate Bhuti Zulu echoed the sentiments, stressing the heavy toll such offences took on communities and the need for sentences that packed a punch. Welcoming the verdict, Dr Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, praised everyone involved in securing the conviction. 'This sentence underscores the NPA's commitment to fighting crime and upholding the rule of law. It sends a clear message: tampering with essential infrastructure will not be tolerated,' she said. Daily Maverick asked the NPA for statistics on infrastructure damage cases that had ended up in court this year. The NPA confirmed that while it did not maintain official records on such cases, this was only the second it was aware of to come before a court this year, though the true number of incidents was likely to be higher. Mocumi's case shines a light on a wider challenge facing South Africa: the urgent need to protect and upgrade critical infrastructure amid persistent threats from theft, vandalism and ageing assets. DM
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The South African
21-05-2025
- The South African
18-Year sentence for polony murder in North West [video]
The Taung Regional Court sentenced 21-year-old Thato Darlington Lekaowa to 18 years' direct imprisonment for murdering his uncle during a family argument over polony in Manokwane village in North West. According to an NPA statement, Lekaowa and his uncle had a confrontation over polony at the family home in Manokwane village, North West, on 14 February 2020. Read the full version of the ' North West man gets 18 years for stabbing uncle over polony' article. After the murder, Lekaowa fled the scene. He was arrested shortly after and initially granted bail. He absconded, forfeiting the bail and later facing remand in custody. Despite pleading not guilty, the court convicted him based on strong evidence presented by the prosecution. In sentencing, State Prosecutor Rebaona Mokgopa highlighted Lekaowa's complete disregard for life and his lack of remorse. Looking for quick updates? Watch News in a Minute videos on The South African's YouTube page for all the key stories you need to know! Catch all the latest videos on news, lifestyle, travel, sports and more – there's always something to watch! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky to stay connected and get your news on the go!
The South African
20-05-2025
- The South African
North West man gets 18 years for stabbing uncle over polony
The Taung Regional Court sentenced 21-year-old Thato Darlington Lekaowa to 18 years' direct imprisonment for murdering his uncle during a family argument over polony in Manokwane village in North West. According to an NPA statement, Lekaowa and his uncle had a confrontation at the family home in Manokwane village, North West, on 14 February 2020. The argument started after the young man ate polony meant for school lunchboxes. In a fit of rage, Lekaowa stabbed his uncle in the back. The victim was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. After the murder, Lekaowa fled the scene. He was arrested shortly after and initially granted bail. He absconded, forfeiting the bail and later facing remand in custody. Despite pleading not guilty, the court convicted him based on strong evidence presented by the prosecution. In sentencing, State Prosecutor Rebaona Mokgopa highlighted Lekaowa's complete disregard for life and his lack of remorse. Magistrate Bhuti Zulu emphasised the need for a tough response to violent crimes, especially within families, and handed down the 18-year sentence. The Port Alfred Regional Court sentenced former SAPS station commander Ncamisa Donkrag to five years in prison for defrauding the police service, but suspended the sentence for five years and ordered her to pay back the money. Donkrag pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud on Friday, 9 May 2025, admitting that she lied about official travel to pocket state money. In May 2022, she claimed she had used her private car to travel from Port Alfred to Port Edward, Mount Ayliff, and Mzamba. SAPS paid her R8,062.58 for the bogus trip. She struck again in September 2022, submitting another fake claim for travel to Zwelitsha and Addo. This time, SAPS paid her R4,705.25. The court found her guilty and ordered her to repay the full R12,767.80. Although she avoided direct jail time, the suspended sentence will hang over her for five years. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
