The arrest of six men who have been accused of allegedly conspiring to rob a cellphone store in Fourways Mall might be a huge breakthrough for the police.
Evidence led in the Randburg Regional Court suggested that the accused were allegedly part of a mall robbery syndicate.
On 19 October, senior prosecutor Yusuf Baba called the investigating officer to the stand, to inform the court about the accused and their personal circumstances.
Warrant Officer Johannes Last led evidence in response to the bail application of four of the six accused. Two of the accused, Sphiwe Madonsela and Thokozani Sibanda, have abandoned their bail application.
Last testified that the first accused, Nkosinathi Masoa, was allegedly positively linked to six armed business robberies that occurred at malls in Gauteng. Last also said that the police have enough evidence to prove allegations that the accused is part of a syndicate that was involved in a spate of robberies in Gauteng.
He added that the accused was a manager at an MTN store in Sandton previously. Last told the court stores that were hard hit – allegedly by the syndicate – includes Telkom, MTN and Cell C stores in different malls across Gauteng.
He also testified that Nelson Malesa, the fourth accused, was allegedly positively linked to other robberies with aggravating circumstances and was among those arrested on the N1. He was a passenger in a Hyundai H1 vehicle with false number plates. The court heard that the vehicle belongs to the mother of accused number six, Lethabo Sheshingwani, who is also the youngest amongst the accused.
Last also testified that accused number three, Raymond Sibanyani, is ‘a dangerous criminal’ and is out on parole following a rape conviction in 2010. His parole is effective till 5 November 2019. Sibanyani has also been released on bail in a pending case in the Mamelodi Magistrates’ Court for possession of a vehicle that is suspected stolen property.
Sibanyani also has to stand trial in another pending case at the same court for armed robbery, where he will face charges of robbing the occupants of a British American
Tobacco (BAT) vehicle. Last also testified that the accused also has a previous conviction for a kidnapping and pointing of a firearm.
In spite of the fact that the six accused denied knowing each other, the police have strong evidence that proves that they know each very well, said Last.
He testified that the accused all met at the Sasol Garage on the corner of Percy Street and Fourways Boulevard in Fourways earlier on the day that they were arrested. “We also have cell phone records that prove that they know each other and are in constant communication.”
The six men were arrested on 28 September along with three police officers. As previously reported charges against the officers have been dropped by the state as no evidence links them to the crime.
Earlier in the week regional court magistrate Gayle Pretorious grilled the accused on why they chose to shop at Fourways Mall while they all live in Pretoria. “I need to now what is so special about Fourways Mall? Pretoria is a big city with quite a number of malls.”
In their affidavits, some of the accused said they were on their way to shop while others said they were on their way from Fourways Mall. In response to the magistrate’s question, the accused said Fourways Mall offered a variety of shoe shops and there were a number of sales going on since the mall is under construction.
The bail application hearing was adjourned until 27 October. All the accused will remain in custody. The investigating officer will then continue leading evidence on the personal circumstances of the accused.
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