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Two men accused of having been involved in a violent crime spree in Gqeberha that ended with at least two deaths and several armed robberies have been sentenced in the Eastern Cape division of the High Court sitting in Gqeberha.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said another accomplice, Siyabulela Stana (37), who was arrested soon after the May 29 reign of terror, is already serving a 120-year sentence for his role in the crimes.
The other two - Bongani Makasi (34) and Thukela Mayathula (27) - were sentenced on Thursday.
Tyali said the trio's wave of crime began the night of 29 May 2024 at approximately 20h30 when Nathaniel Naidoo, an on-duty security officer, witnessed them robbing a man.
"When Naidoo attempted to intervene, he was violently assaulted," Tyali said in a statement.
"During the struggle, Naidoo fired shots, but the criminals stole his firearm and continued their spree."
The trio then moved to a student residence in Belmont Terrace, where they held four students at gunpoint, forced them into a confined space, and stole laptops, mobile phones, and cash.
The NPA said the men's crime spree continued to an abandoned building on Patrick Street in Central, where they encountered a homeless man staying there.
Mayathula and Stana, carrying backpacks filled with stolen items such as student cards, laptops, and textbooks, ordered the man to burn the books.
"When he refused, they changed clothes and proceeded to murder a victim who owed Mayathula money. The victim was shot and left to die, while the criminals stole his phone and other belongings."
'PREMEDITATED AND BRUTAL'
Their final act of violence occurred outside a tavern in North End, where the robbers targeted a regular patron.
"After robbing him and shooting him in the thigh, they fled the scene, leaving the victim to bleed to death."
Tyali said a postmortem later confirmed the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the left femoral artery.
The accused were arrested ten days later for a similar crime involving the same firearm. Two of the four students they had robbed during an ID parade identified them.
During sentencing on Thursday, Makasi was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Mayathula received multiple sentences, including life imprisonment for murder, 15 years for each of the four counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 15 years for possession of a firearm, five years for possession of ammunition, eight years for kidnapping, and 10 years for attempted murder.
All his sentences will run concurrently with the life imprisonment sentence.
Senior state advocate Velile Makasana argued that the crimes were premeditated and brutal, causing immense trauma to the victims. Adv. Makasana emphasised the accused's reckless disregard for human life and safety, particularly highlighting the murders and the violent assault on Naidoo.
The Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, also welcomed the sentences, stating that they sent a clear message to criminals that violent acts will not be tolerated.
