The National Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has welcomed the hefty sentence imposed on two suspects involved in a cash in transit in 2015.
Oscar Olivier Dube (41) and Celempilo Zuma (35) were sentenced by the Germiston Regional Court last week Thursday to 56 years each.
In January 2015, an SBV crew was confronted at Bedford Centre, Johannesburg, by a group of unknown suspects. A shoot-out ensued between the suspects and the SBV crew resulting in two crew members, Dube and Zuma wounded and taken to hospital. The rest of the suspects fled the scene with a substantial amount of money whilst unlicensed rifles and ammunition were seized as part of the investigation.
The Hawks National Bureau of Illegal Firearms Control and Priority Violent Crimes (NBIFCPVC) investigated the matter which led to the conviction of the two in January 2018. The suspects were sentenced to 15 years for armed robbery, 15 years for attempted robbery of a motor vehicle, 15 years for possession of automatic rifle, 5 years for possession of unlicensed firearm, 3 years for attempted murder, and 3 years for possession of ammunition.
Lieutenant General Lebeya has welcomed the conviction and an effective 56 years imprisonment imposed on Dube and Zuma.
"We are confident that this lengthy sentence handed down on Dube and Zuma will serve as a deterrent to those who may have any intention to commit cash in transits in our country.
“I am satisfied with the hard work and dedication shown by the multi-disciplinary teams. We will continue to intensify operations until we are satisfied that all the wanted suspects are all behind bars,” added Lieutenant General Lebeya.