The case of five British American Tobacco (Bat) hijackers reached finality as sentencing was handed down at the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 12 June.
Dumisani Hlela (53) and his three co-accused: Bernard Mbatha (25), Sicelo Magwaza (26) and Sihle Magwaza (27), were found guilty of hijacking and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Only Zwanani Ndlovu (29) was found not guilty for the offences committed as there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction.
The court heard that the four accused would each receive 12 years in prison for their role in the 2015 hijacking of a Bat vehicle in the Johannesburg CBD.
“On 8 July 2015, while stationary at a red traffic light at the intersection of Claim and Noord streets, two men approached a white VW Transporter company vehicle [belonging to Bat],” Captain Xoli Mbele, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Central Police told City Buzz. “One of the suspects pointed a gun at the driver while his accomplice opened the door and forced the driver to the back of the vehicle before driving off. Within minutes, the suspects arrived in Yeoville where they offloaded several boxes of cigarettes into a silver Toyota Quantum taxi.
“An hour later, the taxi was spotted offloading cigarettes at 5 Arthur Street in Bellevue (close to Yeoville/Houghton). Police were notified and six suspects were apprehended. Cigarettes worth an estimated street value of R360 000 were recovered and further charges of possession of suspected stolen property were pressed.”
According to Mbele, however, a sixth suspect – Sphamandla Nzuza (27) – absconded from court after being released on bail. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.
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