Edmond Ntshangase (31) was sentenced on February 11 at the Benoni Magistrate Court.
According to Lieut Nomsa Sekele, Benoni SAPS spokesperson, Ntshangase is part of a group of men who rob people using a baseball bat and knives.
He was arrested on January 2 and was charged with two counts or aggravated robbery.
“He will serve 15 years of his 30 year sentence because the sentences will run concurrently,” said Sekele.
Sekele said good detective work by Const Christian Popela led to Ntshangase being connected to previous armed robbery incidents at the park.
In January, four men robbed a man in Danie Taljaard Park, one of the robbers was hit by a car, on the N12, as he ran from the scene.
The other three men then ran away into the trees.
And on December 20 last year, a man was visiting the park with his nephews when they were approached by three men armed with knives.
“They demanded money when he told them he did not have any, they stabbed him in the face,” said Sekele.
The victim was searched by one of the robbers who later made off with a cell phone.
And on January 2, two men were at the park, in their car, when they were approached by five men armed with knives.
The robbers took their cellphones and a wallet which they found in the vehicle.
One of the robbers was shot in the leg as he tried to run away, and he was later arrested by police officers.
The Benoni SAPS has, for some time, urged people not to visit the park as incidents of robbery occur frequently.
