A 22-year-old man from Ermelo had been sentenced to an effective five years impriosnment for breaking into a state house belonging to the Breyten’s Station Commander.
Andile Excellent Nkosi was sentenced by the Ermelo Regional Court for the crime he committed on April 29 where broke and stole an official firearm, cellphone and a digital camera belonging to the officer.
An investigation was launched with an aim of effecting a speedy arrest and to recover the firearm before it could be used in the commission of crimes. The hard work of the police paid off as the Nkosi was nabbed during a robbery incident that occurred near a sports ground at Rockdale in Middelburg on May 12. In that robbery, Nkosi together with two other accomplices tried to rob a community member using the same firearm and members of the community who witnessed the incident alerted the police.
The police responded quickly and managed to arrest Nkosi together with his acquaintances, Nkosinathi Jele (28) and Calvin Nkosi (24). Upon further investigation, Nkosi was positively linked with the burglary case committed at Breyten, hence his recent sentence.
The three are also expected to appear before the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of the later armed robbery, as well as possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Police management welcomes the sentence as it will serve as a deterrent to other potential criminals. Police also applaud the members of the community who did not hesitate to call them when they witnessed the robbery. We also urge even other community members to report and give information regarding any criminal activity around their areas.
