Man receives 15 years’ imprisonment for business robbery in Leslie

Following a failed business robbery of a Somalian shop in Leslie, Thomas Thabo Masiya (32) was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Evander Regional Court on March 23.

The robbery claimed the life of one of Masiya’s accomplices when the shop owner fired shots at them.
The incident took place on September 30, 2021.

According to a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the shop owner was with his brother at the shop when the three men arrived.

“It transpired through investigation that the trio drove a car with Gauteng registration plates. Two of the robbers entered the premise, leaving the third one in the car,” he said.

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“Both victims were held hostage. The robbers demanded cash and the shop owner pointed them to where the money was kept. Masiya’s accomplice got distracted which allowed the shop owner to draw his firearm and fire multiple shots.”

Masiya was shot in the thigh but managed to get into the car and escaped with the third suspect.

Mohlala said information was received about a patient with a gunshot wound to the thigh at a local hospital.

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“The police discovered that the patient was Mayisa and he was arrested and charged accordingly.”

Mohlala said the driver could not be found. Mayisa said he did not know him or his whereabouts as they had hired him for the robbery.