The Middelburg Regional Court has sentenced Sizwe Khaba, 36, and Rhison Makhamba, 42, for railway infrastructure damage and for contravention of the Immigration Act. 

Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said Khaba was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years' direct imprisonment plus two years for being in the country illegally. The court ordered that the sentenced should run concurrently. 

Makhamba was also found guilty of the same charges and sentenced to eight years' direct imprisonment.

On November 2018, the Hawks received information that the pair was stealing railway sleepers around Middelburg, Stofberg and Leardrift roads. 

The Middelburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence, Middelburg Vispol, Transnet Security Services and Afriguard security observed the area and the pair was apprehended while removing the railway sleepers. 

The accused made several court appearances and their bail attempts were successfully opposed by the investigators.

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