Grocery Thief From July Unrest Sentenced To Suspended Jail Term
Mbuso Moloi, the man captured on camera stealing groceries from Woolworths during the July unrest, has been sentenced to a three-year imprisonment, which is suspended for five years.
Additionally, the Durban Regional Court has imposed 18 months of correctional supervision and community service on Mbuso Moloi (32).
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He has also been fined R1,000, with the fine being wholly suspended, for driving a vehicle without license plates.
In March, Moloi confessed to the theft committed during the 2021 unrest.
He faced charges of theft and Contravention of the National Road Traffic Regulations after a video surfaced showing him leaving a Woolworths store in Essenwood with a basket filled with goods in July 2021.
The footage revealed him loading the stolen items into his Mercedes-Benz, parked across the road.
This particular store was among many establishments targeted during the widespread looting at the time.
During the sentencing proceedings, a social worker from the Department of Social Development, who evaluated Moloi, expressed the opinion that direct imprisonment would be unduly harsh.
She noted that the viral images of him had contributed to his punishment, and he had become known as the face of the July 2021 looting.
The defense attorney, Advocate Willie Lombard, argued that Moloi’s guilty plea demonstrated remorse and highlighted that he had not committed any offenses since his arrest.
Lombard explained that Moloi’s actions were impulsive, unplanned, and a result of a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Lombard emphasized the impact of the trauma and legal process on the accused.
Lombard requested the court to impose a fine of not exceeding R15,000, acknowledging that while this amount might be excessive, it was within reach.
The prosecution, on the other hand, argued that Moloi’s offense had a negative impact on the economy.
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Businesses such as Woolworths had to enhance security measures, leading to increased food prices.
The prosecution asserted that the accused’s actions had tarnished the image of South Africa.
