Court grants bail to one suspect in eMbalenhle clinic robbery

The Evander Magistrate‘s Court granted bail of R500 to Sibusiso Hlatshwayo (19), one of the five suspects in the Paulina Morapeli Clinic robbery case on August 18.

Hlatshwayo and his co-accused – Steven Pandla (20), Mpendulo Nkosi (20), Thandolwethu Sithole (20), and Katlego Mosehla (19) – appeared for their bail judgment.

In delivering the ruling, the magistrate said that Hlatshwayo had been able to provide the court with exceptional circumstances to justify his release, while his four co-accused failed to do so.

The five were arrested in connection with a robbery at Paulina Morapeli Clinic in Extension 19, eMbalenhle, on the night of August 1.

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According to reports, the suspects pretended to seek medical help for a terminally ill friend. A security guard assisted them with a wheelchair, which they used to push the ‘patient’ into the clinic.

Once inside, the group allegedly pulled out a firearm and threatened nurses. The nurses escaped to safety, and the robbers fled with only the wheelchair and the security guard’s uniform, which they had taken from him.

Two suspects were arrested on the same night, while the remaining three were apprehended in the days that followed.

Police also recovered a firearm from one suspect and the stolen uniform from another. The case was postponed to September 15 for further investigation.

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