Ten men have been sentenced to a combined 245 years in prison for a string of armed business robberies in Durban.
Ten men have been sentenced to a combined effective 245 years in prison for a series of armed business robberies in and around Durban between 2017 and 2019, in which businesses suffered losses amounting to several million rand.
The Durban Regional Court handed down the sentences on Thursday, bringing an end to a case involving robberies at several businesses, most of them belonging to The Foschini Group (TFG).
The gang used a familiar tactic to gain access to their targets, posing as ordinary customers before pulling out firearms and threatening security guards and employees.
Once inside, they would rob the premises of cash, cellphones, clothing and other valuables before fleeing.
The 10 convicted men are Thabiso Mdletshe, 30, Philani Magongo, 32, Wonder Brilliant Mcwabe, 31, Michael Nxumalo, 34, Khanyisani Thusi, 35, Lindani Ndlovu, 38, Thokozani Mdlalose, 28, Sandile Ngcobo, 32, Sabelo Shandu, 34, and Andile Mchunu, 31.
Following the registration of several robbery cases, an investigating team traced and arrested the suspects in 2019. Most were already in custody in connection with other cases.
During the trial, prosecutor Surekha Marimuthu led evidence from 27 witnesses, including fingerprint and facial recognition experts whose testimony linked the accused to the robberies.
In arguing for appropriate sentences, Marimuthu told the court that the offences were carefully planned and particularly serious because they were committed during business hours, placing employees, customers and security personnel at risk of violence.
The court also heard the financial and human cost of the robberies.
An employee of TFG testified that the affected businesses had suffered losses running into several million rand. The company had also incurred additional costs to strengthen security following the attacks.
Employees were left severely traumatised by the incidents.
The court imposed the following effective sentences: Mdletshe, 41 years; Magongo, 10 years; Mcwabe, 31 years; Nxumalo, 24 years; Thusi, 18 years; Ndlovu, 18 years; Mdlalose, 30 years; Ngcobo, 21 years; Shandu, 25 years; and Mchunu, 27 years.
The sentences amount to a combined 245 years behind bars.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the outcome, saying business robberies endangered employees, customers and security personnel while inflicting substantial financial losses on companies and harming the economy.
NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the authority remained committed to prosecuting perpetrators of serious and violent crime.
"The NPA remains committed to vigorously prosecuting perpetrators of serious and violent crime without fear, favour or prejudice," she said.