Two Mpumalanga police officers were sentenced to eight years behind bars for stealing more than 50 sheep, the province’s police said on Friday.
Police spokesman Leonard Hlathi said the Evander Regional Court made its ruling on Thursday, sentencing 49-year-old Warrant Officer Selby Langa and 42-year-old Constable Sizwe Mndebele after they were convicted of stock theft.
“Langa and Mndebele were positively linked to incidents where 58 sheep were stolen at Goedgedacht Farm in Standerton around January 2011,” said Hlathi.
“During the investigation, it was discovered that the duo went to the farm on several occasions and stole the sheep using a state vehicle. They were also positively linked with another case of stock theft which took place in December 2010, of which Mndebele was acquitted.”
Langa will serve an additional four years in prison in connection with the 2010 case.
“The police management in the province welcomes the sentence as it is an indicative that they will not keep any rotten elements within the service,” said Hlathi.
“They believe that it will serve as a deterrent to other police officers who might think of engaging themselves to any criminal activities.”
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