Thulani Zondo (27) and Julius Lekolane (23) were recently found guilty of the armed robbery of a spaza shop in Tsutsumani and were each sentenced by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court to 10 years in jail.
The court heard that on 19 January, the two approached a shop owner and his assistant while they were offloading goods from a vehicle into their shop. One of the suspects pointed a gun at the victims and forced them to lie on the ground. The robbers took their cellphones, airtime vouchers and about R2 000 in cash before locking the victims in the shop.
After a short while, the shop owner unlocked the place using spare keys and when outside saw the robbers walking away. The shop owner chased the robbers, who ran off.
When the suspects ran in separate directions, the shop owner followed the one with the stolen property. Despite his plea for help, the public ignored him until the pursuit reached 20th Avenue in Alex and the public apprehended the robber before the police came and arrested him. The stolen property was recovered from the suspect.
While on the way to the police station, the robber saw his accomplice driving in a Nissan bakkie and informed the police, who also arrested him. The stolen cellphone was recovered on the second robber.
Zondo was found to have a previous record of common robbery committed in 2005 and for which he received a five-year suspended sentence; and Lekolane had a previous conviction of assault and intimidation for which he was cautioned and discharged.
