Update
GEORGE NEWS - A former cleaner at the Outeniqua Transport Museum, Nzaweka Tawule (45), was sentenced to one year direct imprisonment in terms of the contravention of the National Heritage Resources Act by Magistrate Erna Grobler in the George Regional Court on Thursday 30 September.
It was discovered in 2020 that parts of two steam locomotives in the museum, named Ben and Roos, had been stolen and others damaged.
The Hawks national priority violent crimes team in George conducted an investigation which led to Tawule's arrest in May this year.
Thick-walled copper pipes were found in his possession and he was convicted for theft and malicious damage to property in August.
Tawule was sentenced to two 12-month prison terms which will run concurrently. He was also handed down a further suspended sentence of two years.
The damage to the locomotives was estimated at approximately R215 000.
Tawule was employed by a cleaning company that was contracted by Transnet to clean the museum at the time the offence took place.
A spokesperson for the Hawks, Zinzi Hani, said they are mandated to combat and investigate incidents relating to the national cultural heritage of the country. "The Outeniqua Transport Museum is considered to be an important role player in efforts to preserve national heritage objects that portray the various means of transportation used in the country's history."
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