Slindelo Khoza (31) and Sibusiso Nkala (36) recently appeared in the Ladysmith Regional Court and were sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment each.
On the evening of July 13, 2017, two armed men (Khoza and Nkala) entered a business premises in Residency Road and threatened an employee who was on duty. He was instructed to lie on the floor while the two ripped a safe from the wall in an office. They took his cell-phone and left while firing gunshots in the victim’s direction.
Police were contacted and responded swiftly.
Officers cornered the suspects in a bushy area near the scene of the crime.
A shoot-out ensued, which ended in the two men being arrested.
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They were charged and appeared in court, where the investigating officer successfully opposed bail while preparing the case docket for court proceedings. After several remands while in custody, the case was recently finalised and the accused were convicted.
They were sentenced to 15 years for robbery with aggravated circumstances, five years for possession of an unlicensed firearm, five years for attempted murder, three years for housebreaking with intent to rob, two years for discharging of a firearm likely to injure or endanger the safety of another person, and six months for possession of ammunition. They were also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
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