Business robbery during Covid-19 lockdown leaves a pair behind bars

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Two men have been sentenced to imprisonment by the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court for offence committed during the national COVID-19 lockdown.

Innocent Phiri, 54, and Blessed Ncube, 36, were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment each for robbery with aggravating circumstances for crime committed in Atterberry, Pretoria, in May 2021.

According to Phindi Mjonondwane, NPA Gauteng Spokesperson, the complainant and colleagues were at their workplace, sitting around a fire at night, when they were approached by two armed men.

“Phiri and Ncube pretended to be delivering a parcel. When one of the employees attempted to call the manager, one of the assailants grabbed the phone, threatened them with a firearm, and restrained them using cable ties.

“The assailants stole a trailer, a small Caterpillar (Bobcat), and several cell phones belonging to the victims. They then fled the scene in a silver-grey bakkie towing the stolen trailer.

Suspicious movement during lockdown

“Later that night, officers from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) stopped the vehicle in the Greenstone area after becoming suspicious due to movement during lockdown,” she explained.

Mjonondwane stated that upon checking the trailer’s details, officers discovered it had been reported stolen in a robbery case and a search of the vehicle revealed two firearms and multiple cellphone.

She added; “Although the victims could not identify the attackers due to poor visibility at the time of the offence, the State relied on the doctrine of recent possession, given that all stolen items were found in the accused’s possession shortly after the robbery.

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“The accused claimed they had been hired by an individual known as “Tyson” to deliver the trailer to Isando and denied involvement in the robbery.

“However, Regional Court Prosecutor Lesley Munyai argued successfully that the possession of the stolen property, combined with the victims’ testimony that they had been threatened with firearms and robbed of their phones, proved the pair’s involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.”