Sbusiso Khumalo (39) and Sihle Bright Mnguni (42) each received 25 years’ direct imprisonment after robbing an Umzinto spice shop on two separate occasions.

The men were sentenced at the Scottburgh Regional Court last week, on their conviction on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

On September 9, 2023 the men first robbed the complainant (a woman employee at the shop) in the morning, when the spice shop opened for the day.

Reports indicate that the accused demanded money at knifepoint. When they were told that there was no money in the till due to the shop just opening for business that early in the day, Khumalo and Mnguni, stole various spices valued at R560 and fled.

They returned later the same day at about 15:30, and brought with them a bag.

Once again, the complainant was threatened and a knife was held to her neck while packing boxes of spices into the bag.

This time around, the men stole goods worth R3 500 and fled.

It is believed that the men were known in the area, and were previously customers at the shop, so the complainant recognised them. The matter was reported to the police, and although the complainant knew their names, she did not know where they were located.

The accused were subsequently arrested in April 2024 while in custody for another matter. The stolen items were not recovered.

During court proceedings, prosecutor Lindokuhle Gumede led the evidence of both the complainant and an eyewitness, who operated a business nearby. The eyewitness, who was also known to the accused, corroborated the complainant’s account, having witnessed both incidents.

The complainant also informed the court that the shop was forced to close following the robberies, resulting in her losing her job.

She mentioned that she experienced significant hardship and was ultimately compelled to relocate to her home area.

The court sentenced the men to 15 years’ imprisonment on each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and ordered that five years of the sentence imposed on the second count run concurrently with the sentence on the first count, resulting in the 25 years’ imprisonment sentence for each accused.

The sentencing proceedings were handled by prosecutor Thanusha Govender.

The men have also been declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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