A man who robbed a female victim was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.
Khulisimuzi Nkomo, who was part of a gang of four, robbed the victim at her home in Blue Hills at about 8.30am on 28 January in the presence of her male employee who they also overpowered.
Two other men found with him hours after the incident were acquitted when the victims couldn’t identify them.
The gang members who were hiding behind shrubs in the victim’s yard pounced on her when she went out of the house. They forced her back in, closed the curtains, tied her legs with cable wire and demanded money and jewellery.
They took her iPhone and R4 000 in cash. As they demanded the keys for her son’s bakkie, the employee walked in after noticing that the curtains in the house were still closed which was unusual. One of the criminals pointed a gun at him and threatened to shoot him if he reacted.
The employee tackled one of the gang members who was next to him and threatening him with a knife. The gang member got free and fled.
His gun wielding colleague forced the victims out of the house and the gang fled the scene. Police were informed of the incident and in civilian clothing, and with the employee, tracked the cell phone signal to a bush near Diepsloot.
As they moved closer, three men, including the accused, who were next to a motor vehicle got into it and drove off. The police pursued them and blocked their vehicle at the Diesploot Mall. All three men were arrested and taken back to the bush where the phone was found in a plastic bag.
The men were detained at Midrand Police Station. Only the accused was positively identified by the victims.
In court, he claimed innocent of the crime saying he had been in the bush to off-load firewood for a church service.
