The Kimberley Regional Court sentenced Shepherd Ushe(39) an illegal immigrant to 47 years of imprisonment for damaging essential infrastructure and being in the country illegally on Thursday,10 April 2025.

According to Sergeant Merapelo Pilane,between April 2018 and June 2019,the police received reports of battery thefts from cellphone network towers in the Delportshoop and Danielskuil areas. 

Pilane revealed that the investigation was led by then Provincial Head Brigadier(Ret.) Johan Myburgh and Sergeant Orapeleng Mosala of the Northern Cape Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit.

Pilane said the accused was positively linked to three incidents involving theft of cellphone towers.He was subsequently traced and arrested in the Gauteng province.

Pilane mentioned that police investigation discovered that Ushe was in the country illegally and remained in custody throughout several court appearances.

"Investigations further revealed that he was in the country illegally.He was found guilty and sentenced to a total of 47 years;45 years for damage to essential infrastructure and two additional years for contravention of Immigration Laws,"said Sergeant Pilane.

The Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola commended the investigating team for securing conviction and sentence,and reiterated that the policing and investigation of crimes threatening the stability of essential infrastructure remains a priority,Sergeant Pilane concluded.

In the separate incident,the police revealed that the Kimberley Specialised Commercial Court sentenced Ms Simangele Sangweni(33),and her company Multi Quipments(Pty)Ltd(juristic person) for fraud,forgery and uttering as well as money laundering.Sentencing proceedings took place on Thursday,10 April 2025.The charges included 17 counts of fraud,and 25 counts of money laundering.

An investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation(Hawks) discovered that Ms Sangweni and her company defrauded two municipalities more than R900,000 between April and September 2021.

"During August 2021,the accused submitted fraudulent change of banking details letter and invoices to Phokwane Municipality while purporting to be Vaalharts Water,service provider of the municipality.The accused misrepresented themselves and misled the municipality into paying an amount of R455 510 into her business account.

During September 2021,the same accused submitted fraudulent change of banking details letter and invoices to Frances Baart District Municipality,purporting to be Municipal service provider Sedibeng Water.The Municipality was misled and changed the banking details and made a payment of R469 918 to her company's business account,"said Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe.

Thebe stated that Ms Sangweni's company received a suspended sentence meanwhile her was sentenced to 10 years of direct imprisonment.

"Accused number 1,Multi Quipment Pty(Ltd) was sentenced to pay a fine of R100 000 wholly suspended.

Accused number 2,Simangele Sangweni sentenced to 10 years' direct imprisonment,"concluded Thebe.