Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Mmabatho High Court in the North West has sentenced 41-year-old Jabulani Moses Yika to 30 years behind bars for his involvement in killing two Hawks officers in 2020 during a high-speed chase after a cash-in-transit robbery took place in Mahikeng.
Yika, who was sentenced on Friday, was part of nine armed suspects who allegedly shot and forced a cash security van off the road and attempted to blow it open, ordered security officers out of the vehicle, and took both their firearms.
Members of the National Intervention Unit approached the suspects who then fled, leading to a high-speed chase.
In a statement released on Saturday, Hawks spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said, at the time, their members were alerted to be on the lookout for the vehicle in question.
When they spotted the vehicle, the officers gave chase and a shootout allegedly ensued resulting in Detective Warrant Officer Grobler-Koonin being shot.
Rikhotso said:
Three suspects were shot dead during the shoot out, she added.
Three AK47 rifles, two pistols, 86 live ammunition, and two vehicles were seized.
Investigations continued and additional suspects were arrested bringing the total number to nine.
Solomon Ngubeni,47, Musa Mkhavela,33, Terefe Demmissie,39, Edgar Marule,47 Simphiwe Msibi,24, Jabulane Sibisi,53, Omphile Maswabi,33, and Thuso Tshepo Lobelo,31, made their court appearances and face charges of murder, attempted murder, pre-meditated murder, possession of firearms, possession of ammunition, possession of explosives and malicious property damage.
“The matter against the other accused has been remanded to 27 February 2023 for trial,” said Rikhotso.
Provincial Head for DPCI Major General Patrick Mbotho welcomed the sentence and thanked all the units that worked tirelessly to apprehend the perpetrators.
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