Africa-Press – South-Africa. A crew of six cash-in-transit robbers who shot and killed a security officer during a heist in August 2019, have all received life sentences for the crime.
The KwaZulu-Natal High Court sitting in Scottburgh sentenced Thulani Cwele, 33; Mpumelelo Ntshangase, 47; Bongani Madlala, 50; Zenzele Gumede, 40; Bheki Ndlovu, 45; and Zwanani Cele, 34, on Monday.
The men were each sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years for attempted robbery, five years for three counts of attempted murder, 15 years for three counts of possession of unlicensed firearms, and three years for possession of unlicensed ammunition.
The sentences will run concurrently.
Recapping the crime, Hawks spokesperson, Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo, said on Tuesday that security guards were delivering cash to a pension pay point in Hibberdene when they were accosted by the six robbers on 1 August 2019.
Mhlongo added:
They rammed the cash van until it lost control, but failed to retrieve any money and left the scene empty-handed, Mhlongo added.
A case of murder, attempted murder and attempted cash-in-transit heist was reported at Southport police station and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks members from Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation.
The Hawks followed up information and recovered the accused’s getaway vehicle in sugar cane fields.
“Police pursued information until they cornered the accused at KwaMadlala area, arresting the six,” Mhlongo said.
During the arrest police found one AK-47 with fifteen live rounds of ammunition, one R4 rifle with seventeen live rounds of ammunition, and one 9mm pistol with 12 live rounds of ammunition.
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