Jail time for cycad thieves 3 individuals, namely Shadrack Matambo (43), Leonard Khumalo (53), and Thabani Sibanda (39), have been sentenced to serve extensive jail terms for the theft of protected plants valued at approximately R2 million.
The trio was initially spotted by a traffic officer at a fuel station along the N1 near Kroonstad a year ago. The officer became suspicious of their cargo and confronted them. However, they managed to escape while being escorted to the police station.
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The Evidence
The suspects abandoned their vehicle, which was found to contain 50 bread tree cycads. They did not possess a permit to either possess or transport these plants, making their actions illegal.
Jail time for cycad thieves
In December, the Welkom serious organised crime investigation (SOCI) unit and Welkom tactical response team (TRT) traced and arrested Matambo in Gauteng. A subsequent operation conducted by Welkom SOCI and Sasolburg TRT in February resulted in the capture of Khumalo and Sibanda, also in Gauteng.
The Sentencing
Matambo, a Zimbabwean national, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for theft and an additional three months for residing in South Africa illegally. Khumalo received a 12-year sentence for theft, while Sibanda was handed an eight-year jail term.