Tonga - A man who pleaded guilty to keeping stolen property was warned to stay away from crime by the Tonga Magistrate's Court, Mpumalanga, on Monday.
Bonginkosi Mabuza, 25, from KaMaqhekeza's Mafambisa section near the Swazi and Mozambican border, received the warning during his sentencing, a Sapa correspondent reported.
Mabuza was arrested on March 11 last year when Community Policing Forum members and police searched his mother's house and found stolen items worth more than R15 000.
On Monday he pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property.
“I am happy that you are still young and you look promising as you are married and have a kid,” Magistrate Hazel Khoza told him.
“You are also employed and taking care of your mother. Keep it that way and stop breaking into people's homes and stealing their property.”
Khoza sentenced Mabuza to six months' imprisonment with an option of a R3000 fine, both of which were suspended for five years.
Earlier, his Legal Aid lawyer Moses Phakula told the court that Mabuza had not stolen the items, but was keeping them for a friend who had asked him to do so.
Sapa