Robbery
A 25-year-old man was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on a charge of robbery.
Edio Ernest Bila pleaded guilty, was found guilty and sentenced on March 30.
On October 4, 2020, Bila assaulted a woman and took a TV and cellphone from her with force.
In his plea statement, Bila said: “At 03:00 I noticed the complainant hang washing outside her shack. I followed her and entered the door, that wasn’t locked. I threatened to assault her and demanded her cellphone, which she gave to me. I took the TV set and ran out of the shack. I was chased and apprehended by community members.”
He has no previous convictions.
Magistrate Ramufhufhi presided and prosecutor Maluleke represented the State.
Tampering with essential infrastructure
Mavavasa Nyoni (33) from Ramaphosa informal settlement was sentenced to 15 years behind bars on charges of destroying essential infrastructure. This is the prescribed minimum sentence for tampering with essential infrastructure.
He pleaded not guilty on October 11, 2021, and was found guilty and sentenced on March 30.
On November 24, 2020, Nyoni damaged, tampered or destroyed essential infrastructure by digging open an underground copper cable while he reasonably knew it was an electrical cable supplying electricity to Popcorn Valley in Reiger Park.
He was also charged in the alternative to count one, for malicious injury to property of the underground cable, valued at R6 000.
Count two (theft): On November 24, 2020, he stole an underground copper cable from the City of Ekurhuleni.
He has no previous convictions.
Magistrate Shilubana presided and prosecutor Mooiman represented the State.
Rape
* On April 5, Teboho Joveli (31), of Joe Slovo informal settlement, was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape.
He pleaded not guilty on January 25 and was found guilty and sentenced on April 5.
On July 24, 2018, Joveli raped a 14-year-old female child.
Magistrate Harichand presided and prosecutor Mbonani represented the State.
Attempted murder
* On April 7, Muzikawulelwa Sibiya (30) was sentenced to 12 years behind bars on a charge of attempted murder and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Sibiya is also one of the accused in the murder of former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa.
He pleaded not guilty on February 7 and was found guilty and sentenced on April 7.
On August 19, 2017, Sibiya, attempted to kill a woman in Vosloorus by shooting her with a firearm.
Magistrate Harichand presided and prosecutor Mbonani represented the State.
In a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), they said they welcomed the conviction and sentencing of Sibiya.
“The NPA believes that 12 years imprisonment fits the crime of attempted murder. Significantly, the convicted man is one of the accused in the case of the murder of Meyiwa.”
Theft and trespassing
* On April 11, Sipho Masondo (26) was sentenced to an effective six months in prison on charges of theft and trespassing.
He pleaded guilty, was found guilty and sentenced on April 11, on both counts. Count one (theft): On December 31, 2021, Masondo stole copper cable to the value of R1 000 from Into Food Company. Count two (trespassing): On December 31, 2021, Masondo unlawfully entered the premises of the company in Bartlett.
In his plea statement, Masondo said: “I jumped over the wall into the premises. The cable was lying on the premises and I cut a part thereof.”
The cable was not an essential infrastructure and was not supplying any service.
Masondo was arrested on the premises. He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, of which 12 months were
suspended for five years.
He has no previous convictions.
Magistrate Havenga presided and prosecutor Lingane represented the State.
Also Read: Court in Brief
Also Read: Court in Brief
