SEVEN members of a cash-heist syndicate who repeatedly robbed employees of G4S Security Company at gunpoint, solemnly sat in the dock as Judge Trevor Gorvan convicted and sentenced all on several counts at the Mtubatuba High Court on Thursday.
The gang used a stolen getaway vehicle, robbed large amounts of cash, firearms and other items and attempted to kill two guards and a customer during a shoot-out.
Dickson Zithazakhe Nene (42), Ephraim Ntokozo Dube (29), Vusi Gina (31), Thuthukani Mnguni (31), Phumlani Sithembiso Mvelase (29), Bongani Siyabonga Ntuli (28) and Enock Khulekani Mbatha (36) were indicted on 16 charges.
The docket was investigated by Major Mncube of Richards Bay DPCI (Director of Priority Crime Investigation), while State Advocate Dorian Paver, conducted the State’s case.
Only a small amount of money was recovered in the incidents between 22 May and 9 September 2013, when the gang hit Spar store at Hlabisa, Power Spar store at Mtubatuba, Spar store at Hluhluwe and Boxer Superstore and Boxer Super City Empangeni.
During the robbery at Hlabisa Spar, G4S employees, Muzikhona Mbatha and Philani Nsele were on duty.
Mbatha collected the cash container but on his way to the vehicle driven by Nsele, two armed assailants accosted him and fled with the cash.
The guards pursued and gunfire was exchanged between the vehicles.
Nsele rammed the getaway vehicle, whereafter the occupants abandoned the cash and firearm and fled on foot.
All the money was recovered.
•On 2 July, the gang struck again, when Muziwenhlanla Simelane was robbed of cash, his 9 mm pistol and ammunition at Mtubatuba Power Spar.
•On 20 August, a similar modus operandi was used to rob G4S employee, Bongani Mpungose at Hluhluwe Spar, of the cash, his revolver and ammunition. One assailant shot Mpungose in the leg.
•On 6 September, two men robbed Dumisani Gumede of G4S and stole cash, his revolver and ammunition.
•On 27 September, Enock Nkwanyana collected cash at Boxer Super City store at Empangeni, when two armed men robbed him of the cash container and his revolver.
Evidence
During a summary of evidence by Judge Gorvan, it emerged that the accused were connected to the crimes and each other by evidence including CCTV cameras, fingerprints, a large sum of cash deposited into one’s bank account, clothing, recovered firearms and the testimony of a traditional doctor.
In the Mtubatuba Power Spar incident, a member of the Tactical Response Team (TRT), spotted an accused and asked him when he was released from custody.
The accused told Cst Thusi, he has changed his ways, and the constable encouraged him to continue on that path.
However, shortly after the robbery, Thusi identified him from CCTV footage, wearing the same clothes.
Advocate Paver also called a traditional healer as a witness who said three of the accused came to him to prepare medicine which would give them the power to surprise enemies and to safeguard them against gunshots.
All the accused during their evidence said they were tortured by police.
Conviction and sentence
•Dickson Zithazakhe Nene (42) was convicted on three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each count. Two counts will run concurrently. He will effectively serve 18 years.
•Ephraim Ntokozo Dube (29) was convicted on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each. Six years of one sentence will run concurrently with the other. He was also convicted of possession of unlawful firearm and ammunition and sentenced to six years imprisonment on each count but three years will run concurrently with the robbery sentence. He will serve 17 years effectively.
•Vusi Gina (31) was convicted on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to ten years imprisonment each. Six years of one count will run concurrently with the ten years. He will serve 14 years effectively.
•Thuthukani Mnguni (31) was convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. For unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition he was sentenced to eight years each. Four years are to run concurrently. He will serve an effective 14 years.
•Phumlani Sithembiso Mvelase (29) was convicted on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to 10 years each. Ten years of these sentences will run concurrently with the sentence he is serving currently.
•Bongani Siyabonga Ntuli (28) was convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and sentenced to 10 years on the first count and 6 years on the remaining counts. Three years will run concurrently with the 10 year sentence. He will effectively be serving 13 years imprisonment.
•Enock Khulekani Mbatha (36) was convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
