In what is believed to be the first in the country, the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court has written an epitaph to eight accused’s criminal careers on 24 January 2019, finding them guilty of 11 bank robberies and a pattern of racketeering activities and other 20 serious related charges, and sentenced them to life in prison.
The eight suspects, were part of a dangerous gun toting syndicate that terrorised Mpumalanga and Gauteng between 2013 and 2014, robbing 11 banks.
In January 2014, the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime received a docket analysis of the syndicate from the Hawks’ analysis center. Hardly a month, the Hawks team made a breakthrough and secured the attendance of the seven suspects at who were arrested for robbery of a chain store in Empangeni, Kwazulu Natal.
In May and September of the same year (2014), a further four suspects were arrested in Johannesburg and Klerksdorp respectively.
At the start of the trial in June 2016, one of the suspects, Jackson Msiza (54) decided to plead guilty and was sentenced to twenty years in imprisonment, whilst three other accused, withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.
After a two year trial, the remaining eight suspects, Sikhumbuzo Sibanda (45), Strike Ndebele (48), Themba Ndlovu (45), Xolani Nxumalo (40), Bafana Ntuli (45),and Nkosana Nkomo (28), Vusi Lucky Dube (42) Mduduzi Makhubu (38), were found guilty on two counts of racketeering in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), robberies with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, and malicious damage to property.
The first six are Zimbabweans while the last two are South Africans making the Organised criminal group a multinational one.
They were all sentenced to a combined 914 years for robberies with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, and malicious damage to property. Remarkably, the Judge slapped them with further life sentences each on two counts of a pattern of racketeering activities.
The National Head of the Directorate, Lieutenant General Lebeya, commended the three investigation teams for the work well done. “The investigation of these types of syndicated offences are mostly complex. They require commitment and team work by various role players including the prosecutors and intelligence officers . The life sentences for a pattern of racketeering offences are welcomed as they send a clear message. The criminals, as declared by court, will not commit another bank robbery. That is also a way of preventing crime. The POCA legislation provides for these heavy sentences and will be vigorously applied.”
South Africa Today – South Africa News
