Six armed robbers, Thulani Cwele (33), Mpumelelo Ntshangase (47), Bongani Madlala (50), Zenzele Gumede (40), Bheki Ndlovu (45) and Zwanani Cele (34) were handed life imprisonment in the the Scottburgh High Court on Monday last week.

The men were sentenced for murder, attempted cash-in-transit heist, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms, as well as ammunition for an incident that occurred in Hibberdene in 2019.

On August 1, 2019, security guards were delivering cash to the pension pay point in Hibberdene when they were accosted by the gang.

They fired shots towards the security guard and he died at the scene.

The driver of the cash van sped off towards the N2 highway and the men gave chase whilst shooting at the cash van.

They rammed the cash van until it lost control, they failed to get cash and fled the scene empty-handed.

Police spokesman Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said a case of murder, attempted murder and attempted cash-in-transit heist was reported at Southport police station and the case docket was allocated to the Port Shepstone based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation.

“Police members followed up the information and recovered the men’s getaway vehicle in the sugarcane fields. They pursued information until they cornered the accused at KwaMadlala area. The six men were arrested.”

During the arrest, police found an AK 47 rifle with 15 rounds of ammunition, an R4 rifle with 17 rounds of ammunition and a 9mm pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition.

Their bail application was successfully opposed until they were found guilty.

Each of the men was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years’ imprisonment for attempted robbery, five years’ imprisonment for three counts of attempted murder, 15 years’ imprisonment for three counts of possession of unlicensed firearms and three years’ imprisonment for possession of unlicensed ammunition.

Their sentences will run concurrently.

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