Five men aged between 26 and 43 will spend a long time behind bars for the crimes they committed in Ladysmith.
Their cases were recently finalised in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, where they were convicted and sentenced.
Thokozani Mvelase (32) was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 10 years for attempted murder, 15 years for business robbery, and 15 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Sibusiso Gamede (43) was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 10 years for attempted murder and 15 years for business robbery.
Siphamandla Mabha Sithole (26) was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 10 years for attempted murder, 15 years for robbery, and 15 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Jabulani Lukhele (26) was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for murder, eight years for attempted murder and 12 years for business robbery.
Siboniso Nkosi (25) was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for murder, eight years for attempted murder and 12 years for robbery.
Also read: Farm attack in Besters area
On December 21, 2014, these men robbed a business premises in the Peacetown area. The owner of the business had just opened his business when the robbers arrived.
Two security guards were shot and robbed of their firearms.
One guard died at the scene and the second guard was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds.
The businessman was severely assaulted and robbed of his cash, airtime vouchers and cell-phones before the suspects fled the scene. Cases of murder, attempted murder and business robbery were opened at Ladysmith police station for further investigation.
Ladysmith detectives took over the investigation and sourced information that led to the arrest of six accused in the Ezakheni area a few hours after the crime. During the arrests, a special revolver which was taken during the robbery was recovered. Cash, airtime vouchers and cell-phones were also recovered.
Khulekani Hlatshwayo (28), who made a confession and pleaded guilty to the crimes he committed, was sentenced in February 2015 to 25 years for murder, five years for attempted murder and 15 years for robbery. Although the case against the six accused has been finalised, dedicated detectives are still searching for another three suspects who were also part of the robbery.
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