The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has gladly welcomed two separate sentences that were imposed upon two perpetrators who targeted businesses in Standerton. Wiseman Thulani Mbatha (44) was sentenced by the Standerton Regional Court on Wednesday, 21 June 2023 for business robbery meanwhile the same court on the same day sentenced Magondwane Alfred Motha (46) for tempering with essential infrastructure.
The court heard how on 15 February 2020 two armed suspects entered a certain retail chain store and staged a robbery. They robbed the shop of mobile phones as well as undisclosed amount of cash before they fled the scene using a white Toyota Etios as a getaway car,
The Police in Standerton were informed about the robbery and the said vehicle was spotted by the members, which resulted in a chase. The vehicle with two occupants was finally brought to a halt at Leslie and two suspects were arrested. During their capture, cell phones were found recovered inside the said car which were later positively identified by the owners as properties belonging to the retail shop that was robbed by the suspects. Mbatha was one of the two men arrested.
The two appeared in court however along the way, the Standerton Regional Court acquitted the 42-year-old man who was arrested with Mbatha, which left him alone in the box to face the music. The court eventually sentenced Wisemen Mbatha to 15 years imprisonment for the business robbery. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Meanwhile the sentencing of Motha came after the court heard how he, on 21 June 2022 was caught by security officers whilst busy destroying, cutting and removing copper irons and wires from the electric distribution board that supply electricity to the soccer field and to the buildings around. The guards that were posted to safe guard the premises alerted SAPS members in Standerton who responded accordingly. Motha was then arrested and charged for tempering with essential infrastructure.
He made his first court appearance at the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on 23 June 2022 and he was convicted and sentenced on the same day (21 June 2023) to five years imprisonment with three (03) years suspended for five (05) years. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela further appreciated the collaboration between members of the public, law enforcement agencies such as security companies and the SAPS in fighting crime. The General also praised the investigation team, the Prosecution team as well as the Judiciary in both cases which saw perpetrators receiving the well-deserving sentence.
Source: South African Police Service