By Durell Namasani
The son of a famous Man of God Pastor Hastings Salanje has appeared in court over charges of theft and money laundering. Gift Salanje who is aged 33 and his girlfriend Nokukhanya Glenrose Sibiya briefly appeared in the Mossel Bay Regional court in Western Cape South Africa
According to Police Statement, this emanates from an incident that took place on 1 July 2021 where police responded to information about a vehicle travelling along the N2 suspected to be carrying stolen cell phone tower batteries. The police, together with private security, found the accused on the N2 and recovered batteries.
Through an intensive investigation, it was discovered that Gift Salanje and other suspects were operating as a syndicate and were responsible for a number of thefts and tampering with essential infrastructure around the Western Cape. They were linked to 15 cases totalling to an amount of R1.3 million.
The three suspects were immediately arrested, and the case was handed to the Hawks Economic Protected Resources (EPR) team based in George for further investigation which resulted in the sentence of the two accused persons in the Tembalethu Regional court in July 2024. An effective sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment was imposed on each accused, Sakhele Nicholas Magubudela (34) accused 1 and Thuto Khomongoe (34) accused 3. Accused 2, Calisto Chadereke escaped from custody.
Through intensive investigation Salange and Sibiya were found to be the end users of these stolen tower batteries by buying from the accused and selling the towers batteries.
The matter has been postponed to tomorrow, 29 November 2024 for Sibiya to appear for bail application and Salanje remain in custody on a related matter. The matter will then be remanded to the 29 January 2025 for both accused to appear again.
Calisto Chadereke is still at large.
