Manandrew Hagstron and Claudius De Klerk, pleaded guilty when their trial started in the Mariental Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

The two, who were both 18 at the time they committed the offence, received four-year prison sentences, suspended for four years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence during that period.

Lawyer Bradley Basson, who represented both boys, said a psychiatric evaluation report presented in court revealed that they were susceptible to peer pressure.

The report said it was not likely that they would again commit the same crime, he told the court.

Basson said the boys had made serious attempts to restore the gravestones to their original condition, but it was not possible with some of the stones.

The boys raided the Mariental cemetery on August 12, smashed 78 headstones and destroyed some ornaments.

An undertaker estimated the damage at N$100 000, but the town's CEO, Paul Nghiwilepo, said it was much higher.

"One of the gravestones had been valued by family members at N$30 000, therefore I am of the opinion that the cost could be much higher," he said.

Nghiwilepo said the Town Council was considering a proposal to station security guards at the town's cemeteries.

He said civil lawsuits against Hagstron and De Klerk could not be ruled out.

"Most of the damaged gravestones have been put back, but cracks caused during the raid are still visible, causing discontent among many affected family members," Nghiwilepo said.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  City Council takes back B1 City plot
•  Jacobs corruption probe not yet finished
•  Roessing pushing for 2030
•  Lawyer issue delays cop's trial
•  N$400m waterfront project to start soon
•  De-mining in Angola speeds up
•  Community service a viable alternative to prison: Minister
•  Gazza, The Dogg to share stage
•  Parastatal confirms financial squeeze
•  No action against cops in elephant case
•  SA police seize truck, impound cigarettes from Nam
•  SA heavyweights on bench for Teek appeal
•  Govt newspaper tender re-advertised
•  Damara chiefs to discuss differences
•  Murdered woman found at Rehoboth
•  Warden in court over fuel
•  Swakop is IT, says television producer
•  New conservancy launched in Caprivi
•  Rape, murder, robbery mark long weekend
•  Enviro magazine on way
•  By-election date announced
•  Insurers 'bleeding the common man'
•  TransNamib in dire straits