Tlou and Makhubo were charged with aggravated robbery, attempted murder, house break-in and theft and possession of unlicensed fire arms, following their arrest on April 25 when members of Nigel CPF saw them crossing Blesbokspruit. Closer inspection revealed the men were carrying a bag that contained unlicensed guns, which had been used in an armed robbery in Nigel the previous day.
During the court proceedings it came to light that Tlou and Makhubo were also involved in a house break-in and theft on March 27.
They appeared in Nigel Regional Court and pleaded guilty on all charges. On the charge of aggravated robbery, both were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, on the charge of attempted murder – 10 years imprisonment, five years imprisonment on the charge of house break-in and theft and 15 years imprisonment on the charge of possession of unlicensed fire arms. The court ordered that charges 1, 2 and 4 run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentencing of 20 years imprisonment.
In another court case, 26 year old Thembelane Kumalo was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment by Mr Voogt in Nigel Regional Court on November 3.
Kumalo was found guilty on a rape charge on October 22, following an incident that occurred in Duduza on February 15. In delivering the sentence, Mr Voogt said the court has a responsibility towards rape victims and the community at large to protect them from offenders such as Kumalo and by sentencing him to 16 years behind bars serves as a case in point to other offenders.
