Southbroom robbers handed a hefty sentence
Magistrate Johann Bester said that deterrent sentences were necessary as the crime of house robbery has become prevalent in virtually every community.
FOUR young men from Bhobhoyi were convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances in the Port Shepstone Regional Court and sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 10 to 13 years.
The court found that Mthembeni Brian Mlambo, a gardener employed by Dirk Terblanche at his home in Southbroom, had conspired with Mzizi Madlala to steal from the house during April 2014.
Mlambo locked the dogs up in the garage to enable Madlala and two young men he had recruited to assist with the robbery, Nhlanhla Cele and Sandiso Mazubane, to enter the house unhindered. The domestic worker was overpowered by the men who were armed with knives and grass slashers and her cellphone was taken from her. They forced open a gun safe and stole a pistol and jewellery worth thousands of rands, of which very little was recovered.
Mlambo, who had orchestrated the robbery, was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment by regional magistrate Johann Bester
Magistrate Bester further sentenced Madlala, who had recruited the two younger men, to 12 years’ imprisonment.
The two teenagers, Cele and Mazubane, will serve 10 years.
In the judgment on sentence, Magistate Bester said that deterrent sentences were necessary because the crime of house robbery had become prevalent in virtually every community and had the effect of traumatising the victims for many years.
Detective Constable Zolile Sibisi of the Margate police, was the investigating officer.
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