By Thys Khiba – Mpho Makatise has been sentenced to ten years for attempted murder, ten years for theft and five years for attempting to evade justice by the Bafokeng Magistrates’ Court.
The 39-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges levelled against him.
The court ordered the sentence to run concurrently, effectively granting him fifteen years of direct imprisonment.
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Zola Mphayipheli, urged the court not to be lenient to the accused as he lacked remorse. He further argued that copper cable theft is rife and it is one of the offences that is crippling the economy of the country.
Magistrate Mamabolo, could not disagree with the state as she imposed fifteen-year direct imprisonment on the accused.
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On 11 May 2021, Makatise and six of his accomplices went to the Impala Platinum mine to steal copper cables.
According to the North West spokesperson for the NPA Henry Mamothame, the 39-year-old and his accomplices were then spotted by security personnel at the mine, to which one security guard was shot five times by the suspects.
“He was later rushed to a nearby hospital to receive media attention. Reports reveal that he spent six months in hospital and he has not fully recovered as he continues to get treatment for the gun wounds he sustained,” said Mamothame.
Police officials are still searching for six of the suspects, as they managed to escape from the crime scene.
Reacting to the conviction, the Public Prosecutions Director in the province, Dr Rachel Makhari and the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, highly praisedall role played in ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to book.