Three men who were arrested in Alex have received hefty sentences for housebreaking and robbery.
The robbery occurred last October when they pounced on a man, his wife and daughter in their Linksfield home as they were preparing to go out in the evening.
The men, two Zimbawe nationals Brighton Nyathi and Ndaba Moyo, and South African Phumlani Mabasa stole household items and a vehicle to the estimated value of a million rand. They were arrested within 24 hours of committing the crime after a tip-off from the public.
The court heard that the men broke into the home with one wielding a knife and another apparently armed with a rifle. They demanded the keys to the safe, and guns which the victims said they didn’t possess. They tied up the victims and ransacked the house.
Nyathi who had a previous record of trespassing was sentenced to 18 years. Moyo, a first offender received 12 years, and Mabasa who had a previous record of housebreaking, possession of stolen property and trespassing was sentenced to 18 years.
