King William’s Town - An Eastern Cape court has sentenced three men to prison terms of more than 100 years each for a string of crimes including murder, attempted murder, hijacking as well as escaping from custody.
Police spokesperson Captain Mlungisi Matidane said the three men, Anele Nontenja (31) from Ntlozela location in Bizana in the Eastern Cape, and his two co accused, Tembile Nontenja (29) and Xolani Gubevu (32) from Lamontville in Kwazulu Natal were convicted and sentenced by the Flagstaff Magistrate’s Court this week.
Among the charges were escaping from lawful custody, attempted murder, armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition which were committed in 2013.
Matidane said Nontenja was sentenced to seven years while Gubevu and Nontenja were sentenced to 40 years each.
“The same convicts who committed blue light robbery by posing as if they are performing legitimate police roadblock R61 and N2 from Flagstaff to KwaZulu Natal appeared before Bizana High Court where each was convicted and sentenced to 103 years imprisonment after being convicted for hijacking, attempted murder, murder, robbery aggravated, kidnapping, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.”
Matidane said the three would serve at least 37 years of their sentence.
“In total, there were 57 counts and all these crimes were committed on the R61 and N2 from Flagstaff to KwaZulu Natal.”
Bizana Cluster Commander, Brigadier Mthuthuzeli Mtukushe, welcomed the sentencing and congratulated the detectives for the excellent investigation that led to the arrest and successful convictions.
“The community will also be relieved as the three were also armed and very dangerous, and they are now going to jail, where they belong,” he said.
ANA
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