An Alex man was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court for an armed robbery of a female motorist.
Half of the period was suspended for 10 years by magistrate Renier Boshoff assisted by state prosecutor Lufuno Maphiri.
Jabu Mgayi (30), who was with accomplices who escaped, was found guilty for the robbery on 1 May at a traffic light on Rautenbach Avenue in Wynberg.
The gang approached her vehicle, which had a window slightly open, as she waited for the robot to turn green.
Mgayi pointed a gun at her and demanded her handbag while putting his hand in through the window. Just then, the robot turned green and the victim drove on with the accused’s hand stuck in the window.
This attracted the attention of pedestrians and other motorists, including her husband who was following her. He got out of his vehicle and shouted at the gang. Fearing that the husband could be shot, the victim tossed out her handbag to distract the gang. This freed Mgayi, who had taken the keys out of the ignition. He picked up her bag and threw the keys at her before the gang ran away.
Security guards alerted to the incident chased the gang and apprehended him with the victim’s bag which was handed back to her while he was handed over to the police.
