The Ladysmith Regional Court recently sentenced 24-year-old Siphesihle Sphe Khumalo to a lengthy term of imprisonment for his role in hijacking and robbing a truck driver.
On June 19, 2012, at about 2am, a 42-year-old truck driver parked his vehicle overnight at the lower end of King Street. He fell asleep inside the vehicle, but was later woken up by the sound of his truck window being smashed. A number of suspects armed with firearms and knives threatened and assaulted him.
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They drove off in the truck, with the driver still inside the vehicle. They travelled along the N11 and stopped at several points along the road to assault the driver and demand his pin number and ATM card.
At some point, they also tapped diesel from the vehicle.
A while later, they left the driver and truck outside Newcastle, fleeing with the driver’s personal belongings.
The driver reported his ordeal to police in Newcastle, where the case was transferred to the Uthukela Task Team for investigation. The accused was later arrested in Umbulwane after forensic evidence linked him to the crime scene. During his arrest, he was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
On April 12 this year, Khumalo was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for hijacking and robbery, and eight years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm. The sentences are to run concurrently. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
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