Case built by Malvern SAPS sends carjacker to prison for 10 years

A CARJACKER, Siyabonga Mahlanza, (26), who tried his luck one too many times, will spend 10 more years in addition to the almost four he has already spent behind bars after being apprehended by two officers from Malvern SAPS.

His arrest in November 2016 followed an incident in which he and two other suspects held up a motorist in a gold Ford Fiesta on the corner of Stella and Carrick Road, Queensburgh at 2pm.

Communications officer for Malvern SAPS, Sgt Sthembile Kheswa, who was also one of the two arresting officers said the three men, brandishing knives, threatened the driver of the car.  

“All three suspects jumped into the complainant’s vehicle and robbed him of his vehicle,” said Kheswa.

Unfortunately for Mahlanza, a police vehicle patrolling in the area stopped after the two officers witnessed the robbery.

W/O Meena Raghoonanan, assisted by Kheswa had been approaching the traffic lights on Stella Road.

“Immediately the ladies in blue intervened and managed to apprehend one of the suspects at the crime scene,” said Kheswa.

The police officers managed to intercept the vehicle at Hans Dettman Road where the two other suspects fled into a nearby bush.

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“The complainant was then taken to Malvern SAPS to open the case and the suspect was detained and charged accordingly,” said Kheswa.

The suspect was linked to several other cases including hijackings which took place in Pinetown.  “The case was assigned to the investigating officer D/Cst Gilfred Pharela from Malvern SAPS. Through excellent and professional detective work, a 10 year sentence of imprisonment was secured following the conviction,” said Kheswa.

Satisfied

Kheswa said she was satisfied that the man she had helped to apprehend had been convicted and put behind bars.  “By working together we have managed to remove a carjacker from the streets of Malvern,” she said. Malvern SAPS station commander, Lt Col Val Reddy also applauded the efforts of the team.

“I am proud of my members who were brave and professional. Well done to detective Cst Pharela who persevered to secure a good sentence,” she said.

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Capt Carmen Rhynes, Ethekwini District communications officer also applauded the detective.

Rhynes said the actions of the detective in court helped to keep the accused behind bars for almost four years since his arrest in 2016.  The sentence handed down in August was for 10 years direct imprisonment and the accused being declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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