POTCHEFSTROOM: 26 May 2023 - A 55-year-old David Mathebula appeared before the Ganyesa and Atamelang Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 25 May 2023 in connection with damage to essential infrastructure, theft of tower batteries and contravention of Section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002).He was remanded in custody until 3 and 4 July 2023.
The suspect’s court appearance emanates from his arrest on Tuesday, 23 May 2023, at Vrede, by the Free State Organised Crime unit. According to information, Mathebula is a wanted suspect in five other provinces for similar offences and the Organised Crime Units in these provinces have been working together to trace him. Allegedly, the Free State Organised Crime unit stopped a suspicious vehicle in which Mathebula was a passenger. Upon searching the car, the police found tower batteries. According to allegations, Mathebula is in the country illegally. He has already appeared in court in Free State and is still expected to appear in courts in other provinces like Limpopo, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng for similar charges.
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, applauded the Organised Crime Units members who were involved in making sure that the accused is brought to book.