Cash in Transit Robbers sentenced to 100 years in Jail

The Gqeberha High Court sentenced four cash-in-transit robbers to more than 100 years in jail on Wednesday, 7 September. 39-year-old Sonwabo Gcuwa, Lusanda Ludziya (35), Nontuthuzelo Majola (37), and Sithembile Qhongoshani (35) were facing three counts of attempted murder, one of robbery as well as possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Hawks spokeswoman Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said the sentences followed an incident that occurred on 2 May 2018, where two Fidelity guards were collecting cash at Sasol garage in Linton Grange, Gqeberha. They were pointed with firearms by three black men as they exited the garage. “Suspects took the money boxes and a firearm of one of the guards, then fled in a white Toyota Quantum. The vehicle was later spotted and chased by the Gqeberha K9 and Algoa Park police,” Mgolodela said in a statement.

She added that a shoot-out ensued at the corner of Ditchling and Chase drive in Algoa Park, where suspect Malibongwe Balojeni (27) was fatally wounded. “The guard’s firearm was recovered at the scene and another one next to the deceased and two cellphones. A bystander, who was driving a passing truck, also got shot in the buttocks and one police officer in the leg.

The rest of the suspects escaped.” Mgolodela further said the Gqeberha Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation team, together with the national priority violent crime task team, launched a manhunt. The investigation led to the arrest of Gcuwa, whose confession led to that of Ludziya and Majola, a security guard from Fidelity, on 16 May in the same year. The last suspect, Qhongoshani, was arrested in September through further investigation.

Source – Daily Sun

In More News – Sergeant Thabo Mosia says he had no reason to tamper with evidence

Sergeant Thabo Mosia, the state witness in the trial of five men accused of killing goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, says he had no reasons to tamper with evidence as suggested by the defence. Mosia was the first forensic officer to arrive at the crime scene.

Mosia has finally wrapped up his testimony at the High Court in Pretoria after weeks on the stand. Meyiwa was shot and killed during an alleged robbery in 2014 at the home of his then-girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo. The sergeant was once again grilled about his role in the collection of evidence. Defence advocate Zandile Mshololo revisited the evidence recovered on the scene, a bullet behind glass jars on the kitchen counter.

He conceded to not taking swabs of the bullet however he could not be drawn into answering whether the bullet links the accused to the crime. Read More