7 Zimbabwean Nationals Jailed 10 Years Each for Eskom Cable Theft in Free State
- The Bloemfontein Magistrates Court handed down 10-year prison sentences to seven Zimbabwean nationals convicted of stealing Eskom infrastructure
- The Hawks intercepted the group on the N6 in November 2022, recovering copper worth over R100,000 and a damaged transformer valued at R2.5 million
- Five of the seven accused received an additional 12-month sentence for being in South Africa illegally
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Source: Facebook
FREE STATE — Seven Zimbabwean nationals have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of theft and wilful damage to essential infrastructure belonging to Eskom. The Bloemfontein Magistrates Court handed down the sentences on Thursday, 20 August 2026.
The convicted men — Tatenda Mutanda (29), Simon Sithole (36), Phillip Chatenhedza (35), Prosper Chiwanda (32), Tiwashe Miziri (40), Themba Dube (39), and Kamokeni Chikuse (43) — were apprehended by members of the Bloemfontein Flying Squad on the N6 highway on 20 November 2022.
How the Hawks Busted the Cable Theft Ring
Acting on a tip-off, officers pursued two vehicles — a truck and a VW Polo — that were travelling from the Eastern Cape toward Bloemfontein. A search of the truck revealed stolen copper with an estimated value of over R100,000. A recovered transformer had sustained damage assessed at approximately R2.5 million.
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Five of the seven men — Mutanda, Chatenhedza, Chiwanda, Dube, and Chikuse — were handed an additional 12-month jail term for residing in South Africa without legal documentation.
Free State Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Hawks, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, praised the collective effort that led to the convictions, commending officers for acting swiftly on intelligence, opposing bail successfully, conducting a thorough investigation, and ultimately securing the sentence.
Cable theft crisis costs South Africa billions
The case draws renewed attention to South Africa's ongoing battle with infrastructure theft, which costs Eskom up to R7 billion annually. Beyond the financial losses, stolen copper cables leave communities without electricity, disrupt train services, and interrupt water supply networks. Courts across the country have been handing down increasingly stiff sentences under legislation targeting tampering with essential infrastructure.
South Africans reacted sharply to news of the sentencing on social media, with many feeling the punishment fell short.
@Rhulani Zico wrote:
"Hard workers... imagine the risks of removing a transformer; once saw a person burn to ashes in seconds."
@Glad Maake said:
"Send them to their own prison back home. They will finish our tax money."
@Liberty Nduku commented:
"I am also from Zimbabwe, but I feel like they should have gotten 20 years without being inside."
@Bennet Letlape added:
"Add 7 yrs each for being in the country illegally."
See the Facebook post below:
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Source: Briefly News
