Two men, aged 20 and 28 years, were sentenced to ten years, eight and two years respectively for theft.

The men appeared at the Sibasa Regional court.

The first to be sentenced to 10 years´ imprisonment without the option of a fine was 28-year-old Tshilidzi Maphangwa, who on June 13, 2010, broke into a house at Manamani village and stole clothing, blankets and an iron. Through information from the public, police managed to trace Maphangwa and arrest him. The stolen items were recovered during further investigations.

In an unrelated case, Tendamudzimu Makhale (20) was sentenced on two charges of theft to eight years on the first charge and two years´ imprisonment on the second, without the option of a fine.

He was charged with housebreaking in Makwarela and Magidi location in 2009. Makhale was found guilty that on September 29, 2009, he had broken into a house at Makwarela and stolen a TV, DVD player, computer, a pair of shoes as well as a travelling bag full of clothing. The court also heard that he had stolen a work suit at Magidi on February 10, 2009. Apart from the computer, all the stolen items were recovered.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson Captain Mashudu Malelo said he was satisfied with the sentences, saying they were a deterrent to those who thought of committing crime.