Justice prevails – hijackers sentenced heavily

Trio jailed for armed robbery, hijacking and kidnapping.

September 5, 2014

Nonkululeko Mathebula 1 minute read

Two men were sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment and another to 13 year for hijacking a Helikon Park woman’s vehicle.

Simphiwe Quthu, 20, and Boitumelo Tshegare, 24, hijacked the woman at gunpoint, stuffed her into the boot of her car and then drove around with her for hours in October last year. They were found guilty on three charges of armed robbery, hijacking and kidnapping.

Their accomplice Koketso Glas pleaded guilty on a charge of robbery and kidnapping, and was sentenced to 13 years behind bars.

The verdict was handed down by Judge Mabusela at the Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court.

Randfontein Police spokesperson Captain Appel Ernst welcomes the sentence and considers it to be a victory for local police.

“The police is happy with the sentencing and knows that it came as a result of the hard work of the investigating officer Santie le Roux and a water-tight case presented by the state advocate.

“Colonel De Bruin would like to congratulate all parties involved on behalf of the Randfontein SAPS management. He says this should serve as a deterrent to the criminal element in South Africa,” says Ernst.

At the time the herald reported that while the trio were driving around in the woman’s GWM, a signal was picked up by the Netstar helicopter. It followed them all the way to their destination while the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), SAPS and the Gauteng Flying Squad closed in on them.

While this happened, Quthu, Tshegare and Glas ditched the vehicle and fled on foot. One of them was shot and taken to hospital while the other two were apprehended.