Written by
Thobeka Mthembu
Multimedia Intern Journalist
Five men have been handed lengthy prison sentences, totaling 545 years, for their roles in a violent 2018 robbery. The men—Phikolomzi Mpafa, 29, Wiseman Tulisile Tsehlana, 49, Bongani Ngubo, 27, Phello Hugh Monyake, 49, and Eliah Mzolisi Mpiti, 54—were part of a 10-man gang involved in a daring heist in May 2018.
The group stormed a liquor store and forced employees to open the safe, making off with an undisclosed amount of cash. In a separate attempted crime, the robbers targeted cash-in-transit guards, attempting to access their armoured vehicle. After disarming the guards, the gang fled in a Toyota Quantum minibus, which was later found at another crime scene in Worcester.
Police swiftly responded to the incident, engaging in a shootout with the suspects as they tried to escape. The shootout left two suspects wounded, and two others were arrested. However, some of the gang members managed to flee in a hijacked Audi Q7. The authorities later recovered vital evidence, including two AK47 rifles, an Uzzi firearm, two pistols (one of which belonged to the cash-in-transit guards), and a portion of the stolen cash.
The men were sentenced on July 15 for a variety of charges, including robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, and the possession of prohibited and unlicensed firearms. Mpafa, Tsehlana, and Monyake each received 105 years in prison, while Ngubo was sentenced to 120 years and Mpiti to 110 years. These sentences will run concurrently under Section 280 (2) of the CPA, Act 51 of 1977.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General (Advocate) Thembisile Patekile, praised the court’s decision, emphasizing the South African Police Service’s unwavering commitment to bringing violent criminals to justice.