Sunday, February 16, 2025

FIRST WITH SECURITY NEWS

Security guards sentenced to 45 years imprisonment for staged cash-in-transit heist

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Three security guards were sentenced to 45 years behind bars for a 2021 cash-in-transit heist on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast.

The Ezingolweni Regional Court also found Bonginkosi Mabusela (34), Phelo Mdleleni (47), Sinenhlanhla Mhlamvu (33) guilty of theft of more than R709000. Their accomplice, Zitha Nobhadula died awaiting trial.

During their investigations, seasoned detectives from the Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation discovered that the robbers were none other than the security guards, who had collected cash from a depot on 30 April 2021. They were travelling from Port Sheptone to Kokstad.

“Whilst travelling in convoy the other vehicle disappeared and the other one was allegedly intercepted by the suspects. An undisclosed amount of cash and firearms were taken. The witness who was passing by the crime scene was robbed of her cell phone and her vehicle keys were thrown in the bushes. The case was reported at Harding police station and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks for intensive investigation,” said Hawks spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo.

He said detectives established the guards’ involvement when they interviewed them.  

“During the interview, it was established that Mabusela, Mdleleni and Mhlamvu were involved. It was also discovered that they conspired with the former security guard, Nobhadula and his accomplices to stage the robbery. Their houses were searched and R709510 cash was recovered.”

“The four accused were arrested and charged accordingly. They appeared in court and their bail application was successfully opposed. Nobhadula died in prison whilst awaiting trial,” said Mhlongo.

His three co-accused were found guilty on 8 March.

“Mabusela, Mdleleni and Mhlamvu were each sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit theft, 15 years imprisonment for theft of cash, 10 years imprisonment for theft of firearms, 15 years imprisonment for robbery, five years imprisonment for malicious damage to property and 5 years imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice. “

“The sentence of theft of firearms, malicious damage to property and defeating the ends of justice will run concurrently with other counts,” said Mhlongo.

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