Former employee of a sports betting outlet sentenced

The Kroonstad Regional Court sentenced a cleaner at a sports betting establishment in Kroonstad to eight years of direct imprisonment for planning an armed robbery at the establishment.

It is alleged that on 14 February 2023, Tshukudu Walter Mokgele (33) and four of his accomplices planned to rob the business premises where he was employed at the time as a cleaner. His accomplices gained entry to the premises as they were about to close and pointed a firearm at the people who were there, instructing them to lie down.

The four accomplices took money from the cashiers and five cellphones from other employees, subsequently fleeing the scene in a getaway car. The fifth suspect, the mastermind behind the robbery, Tshukudu Mokgele, pretentiously acted surprised and therefore left the scene.

A thorough investigation led by Sergeant Zwelinjani Belane of Kroonstad Detectives and Kroonstad Task Team members led to the arrest of the accused.

He was granted bail and an investigation later revealed that the mastermind behind the robbery was Tshukudu Walter Mokgele.

Last week, he was slapped with eight years of direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances by the Kroonstad Regional Court.

Source: South African Police Service