Robbers Mxolisi Simphiwe Mahlangu (34), Mlamuli Innocent Vilakazi (29), Sifiso Nkabinde (38) and Nhlanhla Mavuso (22) were found guilty by the Bethal Magistrate’s Court recently and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each.
They were found guilty on counts of common robbery, assault with the intent to cause grievous body harm, house robbery, pointing a firearm and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Their sentence will run concurrently and in terms of Section 103 Act 60/2000 of the Firearm Control Act, all the accused were declared unfit to possess firearms. The four attacked victims in separate incidents, assaulting and robbing them of their belongings.
The accused known to one of the victims, attacked and robbed the victim of his money and cellphone near Church Street in Bethal on the night of March 19, 2021, after noticing him handing over some money to the witness.
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“The victim reported the matter the same night of the incident for investigation and the accused were arrested and charged accordingly and appeared before Bethal Magistrate’s Court for common robbery,” said Sergeant Thomas Mogadime, spokesman for Bethal police.
Further investigations revealed that the four committed other offences at Mzinoni Township, terrorising the victims at their homes and demanding their belongings.
In one incident, the four entered a house in Mzinoni, on the evening of July 9, 2021, where they found children without their parents.
“A neighbour heard the children screaming and as a concerned citizen, the neighbour went into the house to see what was happening. Upon entering the house, a gun was pointed at the neighbour and he was instructed to go back to his house before he was killed,” said Mogadime.
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The neighbour went back to his house. A few minutes later, he noticed the accused leaving the house with electrical appliances.
When the four accused left the house, the children ran to the neighbour and stayed at the neighbour’s house until their parents arrived home from work.
The neighbour informed the parents about the incident and the matter was reported to Mzinoni police for investigation.
The investigation team comprising of Bethal and eMzinoni detectives collaborated in the investigation and their collaborative efforts led to the conviction of the accused.
