The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the Eastern Cape has welcomed the conviction and sentence of Bongani Dike (41) in the Peddie Magistrate’s Court on the 30 September 2020.
The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation acted on information received about firearms that were kept in a house near the Peddie police station in March 2018, consequently Dike was arrested and charged for possession of firearms which included two pistols, one R5 rifle, 66 rounds of pistol ammunition, 224 rounds of ammunition for a .38 revolver, and two stun grenades.
Hawks investigation had revealed that the stolen firearms were from a burglary incident at Peddie police station firearm store-room on the 14 March 2017. Two accomplices, Bongani Sonentse (28), and Mdeni Yende (26), were also arrested for possession of other firearms linked to the same burglary.
Dike first appeared before the Peddie Magistrate’s Court on the 15 March 2018 and his subsequent bail application was successfully opposed. He was on Wednesday, 30 September, convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for possession of an assault rifle (R5), 15 years imprisonment for possession of 2 pistols, 5 years imprisonment for possession of explosives and another 5 years for possession of 290 ammunition.
He will effectively serve 20 years direct imprisonment and was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Meanwhile, the case of illegal possession of firearms against Sonentse and Yende is still pending finalization at the same court, it has been remanded to 04 November 2020 for trial.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
