TWO cruel criminals, who separately ambushed, robbed and fired shots at terrified domestic workers have been handed hefty sentences in the Richards Bay Regional Court.
Magistrate K Moodley had no hesitation in pronouncing stiff jail terms in both cases, after convincing argument from public prosecutor Lungisile Bhengu and powerful, moving witness statements.
The convictions are seen as a triumph in the fight against women abuse.
Not only did Bongani Khumalo (22 at the time) attack and rob his then 35-year-old victim in July 2015, he left her permanently crippled down one side of her body, with a bullet still lodged in her neck.
The soft-spoken victim, who testified in the witness box seated and with a pillow under her arm, is still receiving medical treatment, is unable to work and considers herself a burden on her family.
Even worse, she is slowly losing her vision.
Khumalo will serve 15 years for aggravated robbery – five years of which is suspended – and a further five years for attempted murder, the two sentences to run concurrently.
Birthday attack
In a separate case, also dating back to 2015, Thembitshe Shandu (then 45) attacked a 41-year-old domestic worker at dawn after she left Nzalabantu on her way to Richards Bay.
He fired a shot at her, which missed, and made off with her possessions, including R3 000 which was for the single mother’s monthly family expenses.
She had lost her husband in 2005.
Shandu was arrested the following day. Police recovered a firearm and ammunition and ballistics evidence linked his weapon to the crime.
The victim also pointed him out in an identity parade.
In a witness statement, her daughter said: ‘My mother was nearly killed on my birthday’.
According to a counsellor, the victim remains extremely traumatised and is terrified of loud noises.
She also is afraid of being alone, which affects her work.
Magistrate Moodley ruthlessly punished Shandu to 15 years for aggravated robbery, 10years for illegal possession of a firearm and five years for possession of ammunition.
He was also deemed unfit to own a firearm.
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