Mtubatuba Regional Court on Thursday sentenced Sibongiseni Mkhwanazi (37) to 18 years imprisonment for a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist in Somkhele, near Mtubatuba.
On 3 February 2020, security guards were travelling from Nongoma to Richards Bay when they were ambushed by Mkhwanazi and his accomplices.
They fired shots at the cash van until it came to a halt. They then robbed the security guards of their service firearms before using explosives to blow open the cash van.
The accused fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money.
A case of cash-in-transit heist was reported at KwaMsane police station and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks from Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Investigation.
Mkhwanazi was arrested the following week.
Hawks members recovered the stolen vehicle that was used during the commission of the crime.
Mkhwanazi’s bank accounts were frozen owing to suspicious transactions, and deposited cash forfeited to the State.
He was found guilty and sentenced for three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
He was sentenced to a further seven years for two counts of attempted murder; five years’ imprisonment for money laundering, and three years for possession of a stolen vehicle.
His sentences will run concurrently.
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