POLOKWANE — A decade‑long criminal case over crushed stones taken from a public road project in Sekhukhune has ended with a four‑year prison sentence for businessman Manamalala Stephen Phasha, the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) team in Polokwane said on Thursday.
Sentence closes a long investigation
The Sekhukhune Regional Court handed down the sentence on 12 August 2026 after investigators said they had established that Phasha, operating through Phasha General Trading CC, removed crushed concrete stones valued at about R1.3 million from a road construction site in Ga‑Nkwana Village in 2011 without authorisation.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Avele Fumba said the matter was originally reported to the Road Agency Limpopo (RAL), which referred it to the Hawks for further probing. “Through a detailed and sustained investigation, Hawks investigators established that Manamalala Stephen Phasha (65), who was operating through Phasha General Trading CC, had removed crushed stones valued at approximately R1.3 million without the required authorisation or compliance with the applicable processes of RAL,” Fumba said.
“This sentence is a clear demonstration that complex commercial crime investigations require patience, precision and determination,”
The Hawks also reported that Phasha was arrested on 1 June 2016, convicted on 13 May 2024, and finally sentenced on 12 August 2026. The court ordered a direct term of imprisonment of four years for the theft, and declared him unfit to possess a firearm, the Hawks said.
How the case unfolded: a timeline
The following table summarises the key dates in the case as provided by the Hawks and court records.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Removal of crushed stones from RAL road construction site in Ga‑Nkwana Village |
| Reported to RAL | RAL opened a case and referred it to the Hawks’ SCCI team |
| 1 June 2016 | Arrest of Manamalala Stephen Phasha |
| 13 May 2024 | Conviction recorded |
| 12 August 2026 | Sentenced to four years’ direct imprisonment; declared unfit to possess a firearm |
Investigators credit persistence
Investigators praised the Hawks team for following the matter through a complex and protracted process. The Hawks quoted Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender, Limpopo Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), who commended the investigators for their “perseverance, investigative skills and commitment to seeing the matter through to its conclusion.”
The Hawks characterised the probe as “meticulous” and said the sentence demonstrated that complex commercial crime investigations require patience and precision.
Local impact and questions for public projects
The theft of construction materials from a public road project raises broader concerns about oversight and the protection of state resources intended for service delivery. Crushed stone and aggregate are essential inputs for road building; their unauthorised removal can delay projects, increase costs and affect community access to basic services.
Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) initially detected irregularities in the material at the Ga‑Nkwana site and referred the matter to law enforcement, according to the Hawks. The agency’s actions underlined the role that implementing bodies can play in spotting and escalating suspected thefts or irregularities.
What this means for communities
For residents of Ga‑Nkwana and surrounding communities, the case highlights how crimes against municipal and provincial infrastructure can have long‑lasting consequences. While the sentence closes the criminal chapter, it does not by itself repair any damage to road projects or address potential delays caused by the missing material.
Community members and local representatives may seek clarity from RAL and the provincial transport or public works departments about remedial steps taken after the theft was discovered, and whether affected projects were completed or required additional funding.
- Key facts: Accused — Manamalala Stephen Phasha (65); vehicle — Phasha General Trading CC; loss — ~R1.3 million; site — Ga‑Nkwana Village; court — Sekhukhune Regional Court; sentence — 4 years’ direct imprisonment.
- Dates: Arrest 1 June 2016; conviction 13 May 2024; sentencing 12 August 2026.
- Authorities: RAL reported the removal; Hawks SCCI investigated and prosecuted; DPCI provincial head commented on the investigation.
The Hawks’ statement closes one chapter in a case that began more than a decade ago. For residents and officials in Sekhukhune, the outcome may prompt renewed attention to safeguarding materials and strengthening oversight on road projects in the province.
Reporting from Polokwane.
