Polokwane – A decade-long investigation into the theft of crushed concrete stones worth approximately R1.3 million has ended with a four-year direct prison sentence for a 65-year-old businessman.
The Sekhukhune Regional Court sentenced Manamalala Stephen Phasha, who operated through Phasha General Trading CC, on Wednesday, 12 August 2026.
The case dates back to 2011, when crushed stones intended for road construction in Ga-Nkwana Village, Sekhukhune, were allegedly removed from a construction site without authorisation.
The matter was initially reported to the Road Agency Limpopo (RAL), which opened a criminal case before referring it to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) team in Polokwane.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), investigators established that Phasha had removed the stones, valued at approximately R1.3 million, without the required authorisation or compliance with RAL processes.
The court sentenced Phasha to four years’ direct imprisonment for theft of crushed concrete stones and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Limpopo Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender, praised the investigators for their persistence in bringing the case to its conclusion.
“This sentence is a clear demonstration that complex commercial crime investigations require patience, precision and determination,” Govender said.
“Our investigators remained committed to the matter and carefully following the evidence and ensuring that the investigation was brought to a successful conclusion.”
SAPS said the sentence marked the conclusion of a criminal justice process that had spanned more than a decade.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
