Over a year since it has been in court, the Jaco’s case has finally been closed following the arrest of two accused suspects.
Sihle Mathe and Zimele Shelembe were convicted for murder, armed robbery and attempted murder at Vryheid Magistrate’s Court last week.
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In March last year two staff members at Jaco’s Engineering were shot in the crossfire during an armed robbery.
Five armed men entered the premises at 8am when Jaco’s opened demanding the safe keys.A manager who was held at gunpoint realised that the gun being pointed at him was a toy gun and the robber appeared nervous.This gave him the courage to push his attacker away and pull out his own firearm and fire a warning shot.However, the other robbers were carrying real firearms and fired a number of retaliation shots.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Gunman in Vryheid robbery found dead
The robbers then fled in a red Mazda Sting without taking anything.One of the injured staff members was fortunate that the bullet merely grazed his arm.Sadly, the other staff member was seriously injured when a bullet went through his abdomen damaging his liver and spleen. One of the gunmen was found dead on the side of the road in the KwaJakalas area of oSizweni a few days later.
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Police sources said that the man appeared to have died from bullet wounds.It was brought to the court’s attention during the trial that the vehicle that was used to transport the body of the armed robber whose body was found dumped at oSizweni, was found at Mr Shelembe’s car wash being cleaned, likely as a means to get rid of evidence.The two will be serving 20 years for murder, 10 years for armed robbery and five years for attempted murder.
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