Hefty sentences were handed down to two cash-in-transit robbers by the Estcourt Regional Court on Tuesday (August 19). Siyabonga Mncube (30) and Mbongeleni Manyoni (35) were sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment each for a violent cash-in-transit heist that was committed in June 2022.

The incident occurred along the R103 near Estcourt, where the accused ambushed an armoured vehicle, opened fire, and forced it off the road. The robbers then disarmed the security guards and used explosives to blow open the vehicle, before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash in getaway vehicles.

A case was reported at Estcourt police station, and the Pietermaritzburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team rushed out to the scene. The following day, Mncube and Manyoni were arrested in possession of stolen cash and later charged.

Also read: Estcourt municipal employee found guilty of R5 million fraud

After several court appearances, the two were found guilty on July 16 this year. In addition to their prison terms, they were declared unfit to possess firearms.

KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Provincial Head, Major General Lesetja Senona, welcomed the sentence and commended the officers for their work in securing the conviction.

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