A man will serve 59 years behind bars for eight counts of robbery among other charges after ambushing a cash guard at Centurion 55 Mall in July 2021 where his alleged accomplice was killed and the guard injured.

Jabulani Reginald Zitha was sentenced in the Pretoria High Court on Friday.

Police spokesperson captain Lloyd Ramovha says Zitha faced charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

Ramovha reported that Zitha was arrested on July 1, 2021 at Centurion 55 Mall when he approached a cash guard along with a deceased counterpart, Lucas Loate.

“The armed pair confronted the guard who had just collected money from the Super Spar. The guard was shot and wounded in the leg before the pair fled with the cash bag.

“Security guards from SBV reacted to the shooting and chased the pair to the back of the mall where a shootout resulted in Loate being fatally wounded.”

He says Zitha was also wounded and taken to hospital for treatment.