The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the sentencing of a male accused, Libiat Madzamanye aged 37, passed by the Division of Polokwane High Court for theft, murder, unlawful possession of firearm, and ammunition, tampering and destroying of essential infrastructure, on Tuesday, 25 February 2025.
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Libiat Madzamanye (37) was sentenced as follows:
* Count 01- Tampering with essential infrastructure , Twenty(20) years imprisonment of which two(02) is wholly suspended for a period of five(5) years on condition that the accused is not convicted of contravening the provision of sec 03 of the Act 18
* Count 02- Theft -03 years imprisonment.
* Count 03- Possession of unlawful firearm – 05 years imprisonment.
* Count 04- unlawful possession of ammunition-03 years imprisonment.
* Count 05-Murder-18 years imprisonment.
It is ordered that the sentences imposed on count 2,3,4 & 5 shall run concurrently with the sentence imposed on count 01.
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During the trial, the court heard that on 14 February 2022 at around 03h00, the accused, Libiat Madzamanye, 37, and his accomplice, who is now a deceased, went to Raphahlelo tower station in Sekgosese policing area and tempered with it and stole tower batteries.
The suspects proceeded to Ga-Femane village in Mokwakwaila policing area and damaged the tower, and stole the copper. The security company was alerted about the alarming and responded to the scene. Along the way to the tower, they met suspicious vehicle, and chased it. The suspects started to shoot at the security personnel, whereby they retaliated, and one suspect was shot and died.
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Cases were reported and registered at Sekgosese, Mokwakwaila and Hlanganani police stations. One suspect was then arrested for murder, theft, unlawful possession of firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, tempering, and destroying essential infrastructure.
The case of tampering and destroying essential infrastructure was opened and assigned to Sergeant Junior Mashitisho of Provincial Organised crime investigations: Crime Detection Unit for further investigation.
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“We warmly welcome the conviction and praise the arresting team and investigating officer for this success, as the issue of tampering with essential infrastructure affects all the areas in the province,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
