The case against the elderly Odendaalsrus couple who were arrested in 2022 for possession of suspected stolen copper cables belonging to the Matjhabeng Municipality has been withdrawn.
William Bird (72) and his wife, Hilda (67), appeared in the Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court on 15 March.
The senior state prosecutor, Goodman Makhanya, said in court that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) would not be pursuing the case against the Bird couple because they were not convinced that the Matjhabeng municipal official Stephan Mokati properly identified the copper cables as belonging to the municipality.
According to Makhanya the Bird couple’s version regarding the possession of the copper cables was reasonably possible.
The couple’s passports were returned to them and a nolle prosequi was issued. The case against them was formally withdrawn.
Candice van der Watt, lawyer for the couple, says it was formally placed on record that the copper cables were not stolen and were not the property of the state.
This is why the state could not proceed to take the matter to trial.
Van der Watt further says it was reported by Vista and on other social media platforms in 2022 that the cables found in possession of the couple were valued at R89 000. This is the initial figure that was provided by the Lejweleputswa SAPS media liaison unit.
According to Van der Watt this figure was incorrect. It was stated in the docket that the cables were valued at R7 399.
It was also reported at the time that Hilda Bird could not provide the SAPS with documentation to prove why cables belonging to the municipality were found on residential premises.
“This is also factually incorrect,” writes Van der Watt.
Hilda Bird was never asked to provide the documentation for the cables, and the cables were lawfully in the possession the Bird couple.
Van der Watt reiterates that the cables did not belong to the municipality. This is why the case has been withdrawn. The information provided by the officials was factually incorrect.
