Following the conviction and sentence of a criminal, Johannesburg central police have vowed to continue with their efforts to take more criminals off the streets.
Richard Hlongwane, a 30-year-old male was found guilty for house robbery and was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment by the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court. The court also declared the convicted robber unfit to possess a firearm.
A spokesperson for the Johannesburg central police, Captain Xoli Mbele said the robbery occurred on 9 March 2017 at about 8.30am. “A 32-year-old woman was busy cleaning her yard when she was confronted by two suspects. One of them pointed a firearm at her while his accomplice stabbed her in the hand with a knife,” Mbele explained.
Th police spokesperson said as the victim screamed for help, they forcefully dragged her into the house.
Fortunately for the woman, a neighbour heard the screaming and immediately called the police and they responded quickly.
“One suspect managed to flee the scene while his accomplice was apprehended. He was found on top of the house where the robbery happened,” Mbele said. He also mentioned that police recovered a firearm, a knife used to stab the victim a TV that was stolen from the victim’s home.
Mbele said police will continue to do their best to ensure that those who commit acts of crime are put away for a long time.
In a separate case, a 32-year-old man was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment by the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court. Sonnyboy Ndlovu was found guilty for robbery with aggravating circumstances. In February 2007, Ndlovu was part of a group of a gang who robbed an FNB branch in Johannesburg. At the time of the robbery, three FNB employees were assaulted. An amount of R46 000 was also taken during the robbery.
After being on the run for almost nine years, Ndlovu was arrested in June 2016, following an intense investigation by the police. He has been in custody since his arrest. The court denied him bail as he was in the country illegally.
