The Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced eight men to three life sentences and a total of 120 years yesterday, 16 March 2022 for cash-in-transit-related crimes.
On 1 September 2017, a team of Port Shepstone based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Special Task Force and Crime Intelligence Gathering received intelligence about a group of men who were going to attack a cash van that was travelling from Kokstad to Harding.
The information was operationalised and three vehicles were spotted on the N2 highway near the Stafford Post. The police instructed the vehicles to stop but the occupants fired shots towards the police. Police returned fire, fatally wounding three men and injuring one. Five assault rifles, two pistols and explosives were recovered.
An investigation revealed that two of their vehicles were hijacked from the owners in Cato Manor, April 2017 and Alexander, June 2017 respectively. Eight men were arrested at the scene and were charged with conspiracy to commit a cash-in-transit robbery, murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of explosives as well as hijacking of two vehicles.
The eight accused, Xolani Mpisane (40), Njabulo Ngcobo (48), Mzwenduna Blose (41), Sabelo Buthelezi (39), Thuthukani Dlamini (35), Msizi Mkhize (45), Sibusiso Ngwenya (33) and Sipho Nyosi (38) appeared in court during a lengthy trial until their successful conviction. They were all convicted and sentenced for the death of their three co-accused, hijacking, illegal possession of illegal firearms, illegal possession of explosives, illegal possession of ammunition and conspiracy to commit robbery. They received life imprisonment with 120 year-imprisonment each which will run concurrently.
