By: Natasha Archary
Former SBV employees who were involved in a 2020 cash-in-transit (CIT) heist, were sentenced to 30-years in prison and have to pay back the R25 million that was stolen.
This after the Pretoria High Court found the five men guilty for robbery with aggravating circumstances, causing an explosion, conspiracy to commit an offence, possession of an unlawful firearm and possession of illegal ammunition.
The men pulled off the CIT heist in January 2020, robbing an SBV van of R25 million.
According to SBV logistics logs, the men made two previous attempts prior to the CIT heist on 7 January.
“Their first attempt was on 27 December 2019 but failed as they were no explosives, their second attempt was on 3 January 2020, but failed as they were no vehicles to ram the SBV truck and visibility of police on the N4 freeway. They only succeeded on the 3rd attempt, on 7 January 2020,” said the NPA spokesperson.
Henrico Fourie, Fannie Morris Mbuyani, Jasias Lucas Maseko, Lazarus Ntlatleng and Bekithembe Patrick Mbanjwa received a direct imprisonment sentence for 30-years.
David Tolo, who was one of the drivers involved, turned State witness and was granted indemnity from prosecution.
The High Court also ruled that the men compensate SBV for the loss, and will need to pay back the R25 million.
On 7 January 2020, the men pulled off the heist on the N4 highway near Bronkhorspruit. They used a Mercedes-Benz to ram the SBV van off the road.
Shots were fired at Tolo and Ntlatleng, who were forced out of the vehicle by the other four men.
Explosives were used to gain access to the money inside the vehicle.
The state urged the court to consider a harsh sentence to send a message over the increase in CIT heists across the country.
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