The Middelburg Regional Court has sentenced Sizwe Khaba (36) and Rhison Makhamba (42) for railway infrastructure damage and for contravention of the Immigration Act on Wednesday.
Khaba was sentenced to eight (8) years direct imprisonment plus 2 years for being in the country illegally, the sentences have been ordered to run concurrently.
Makhamba was also found guilty and sentenced to 8 years direct imprisonment for the same charges.
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In November 2018, the Hawks received information about the suspects who were stealing railway sleepers around Middelburg, Stofberg and Leardrift road.
The Middelburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation, crime intelligence, Middelburg Vispol, Transnet Security Services and Afriguard security kept observation and the suspects were apprehended while busy removing the railway sleepers.
The accused made several court appearances and their bail attempts were successful opposed by the investigators.
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Khaba and Makhamba criminal deeds continue to haunt them as they have other outstanding similar cases for which trial has been set for October 2020 at the same court.
