THREE of five accused involved in a business robbery in Richards Bay in 2015, were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on Friday morning in the Ngwelezane Regional Court.
Magistrate K Shandu found Khaba Mkhize (28), Thembiso Mthethwa (43) and Themba Mavundla (35) guilty on four counts of robbery with aggravated circumstances.
All three accused were also deemed unfit to possess firearms.
The accused held up and robbed Fampak in Richards Bay in September, 2015.
Two accused were sentenced previously in separate courts.
Samkelo Nchee, a parolee, pleaded guilty in the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, while Siyabonga Mthethwa, believed to have provided inside information to the robbers as he was an employee at Fampak at the time, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in the Empangeni Regional Court.
‘People like these three accused are not only dangerous, but also have an adverse effect on our economy.
‘The message must be clear to the accused as well as others that the court will deal harshly with people in this regard,’ said Shandu
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Background
It emerged during the trial that four of the accused had driven from Durban on 10 September, 2015 and staked out Fampak owner Judith Motala’s home, but did not attempt to rob her home as they noticed security cameras.
The following day the four accused entered Fampak pretending to be customers, before holding up Motala and her staff, including Mthethwa.
‘They had planned this very well because they had cut the wires to our camera system at work,’ Mothala told the ZO.
‘They were armed and used duct tape to bind our hands behind our backs and took all our cellphones.
‘Mthethwa was also bound and had his cellphone taken.’
The accused stole a number of items, including laptops, handbags and an estimated R33 000 in cash before making off with Motala’s Grand Jeep Cherokee.
Community help
Motala’s vehicle was abandoned near a bus stop close to Foskor and the robbers fled in a VW Polo, making their way towards Durban.
But local resident James McGregor witnessed this, contacted the police and a roadblock was set up near Umhlali where the the suspects were apprehended.
‘I want to commend Prosecutor Sethabile Dludla who ensured that these last three accused got what was coming to them.
‘James McGregor and the Umhlali SAPS also deserve praise as they worked together very quickly to make the arrests,’ Motala said.
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