Spokesperson for Johannesburg Central Police Station, Captain Xoli Mbele shared two the recent convictions secured by their investigators.
He mentioned that the investigators worked diligently throughout the investigations, making it possible to secure two good sentences. According to Mbele, Menzi Magwaza, a 40-year-old male was found guilty of a business robbery, and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He was sentenced to 31 years’ imprisonment at Westgate Magistrates’ Court.
A breakdown of the sentence is as follows: For aggravated robbery, he will serve 15 years’ imprisonment, while for possession of an unlicensed firearm he will serve another 15 years, and for possession of ammunition he will serve one year in jail.
Read: Police secure two good convictions
Mbele explained that Magwaza will spend 15 years in prison, as counts two and three will run concurrently with count one.
Explaining the background to the conviction, the police spokesperson shared that on 15 December last year at about 5pm, five males entered the shop Pakasia National Trading situated on the corner of Mooi and Pritchard streets, pretending to be customers. Mbele said one of them pulled out a firearm while his accomplices took an undisclosed amount of cash.
“They were disturbed by the security guard and fled the shop. The suspects fired two shots and police gave chase.” Mbele mentioned that one suspect was apprehended on the corner of Bree and Troy streets and was in possession of a firearm with no serial number and one live round.
Read: Yeoville officers’ efforts sees armed robbery suspect convicted
In a separate case, a 32-year-old male was found guilty of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Mbele explained that the convicted criminal, Gamalenkosi Tshabalala was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by the same court.
According to Mbele, on 1 January just after midnight, Tshabalala had an argument with a 25-year-old male at Booysens squatter camp. He pulled out a firearm and fired several shots, the victim ran away and called the police. “The swift response by the police led to the arrest of the suspect. He was found in a tavern and the firearm was recovered,” Mbele concluded.
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