Solar theft: Power gets 20 yrs
2005-10-07 08:45
Modimolle - A 25-year-old Limpopo man was sentenced to 20 years in jail for stealing solar panels in the Bela-Bela area.
The solar panels are used by rural villagers to generate power for electrical appliances.
Coincidentally, the convict's name is Power Shokane.
Waterberg police spokesperson superintendent Malesela Ledwaba said on Thursday that Shokane conducted a spate of more than ten burglaries and thefts in the area between 2003 and 2005.
The Modimolle regional court sentenced Shokane to 20 years. Half of the sentence was suspended for five years.
Shokane will only spend ten years in jail and released. But, if he commits the same crime he will serve the ten years.
Ledwaba said Shokane also stole other household items, but seemed to be interested in the solar panels.
Ledwaba said the sentence was a deterrent to other criminals.