Two thugs handed hefty jail sentences for attempted murder and robbery of a traumatised Durban North family
|Published
The bars of a jail cell with a toilet in the background. File picture
Durban - Two suspects each received hefty jail sentences for the robbery and attempted murder of a family of three in their Durban North home.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said the Durban Regional Court sentenced Linda Mfeka, 33, and Smanga Sibisi, 33, to 30 and 28 years imprisonment, respectively, for the robbery and attempted murders they committed in July 2020, in the Durban North area.
Ramkisson-Kara said the victims were at home, when Mfeka and another man accosted them, armed with firearms.
“They were taken inside and Sibisi then joined them. The men stole their items, while the family were left in one bedroom,” she said.
After some time, she said the family realised that the men had left, and they called their private security company.
“The security company was able to track the location of one of the stolen phones, which revealed that the robbers were in Inanda,” she said.
Ramkisson-Kara said members of the security company, together with the police, descended on the location and Mfeka and Sibisi were arrested.
She said in the State’s case, Regional Court Prosecutor Vishalan Moodley handed in a Victim Impact Statement, compiled by the victims, and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nondumiso Nyembe.
“The victims said that their family has been traumatised by the incident. They no longer feel safe in their home and want to emigrate due to the crime in the country,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
She said during sentencing, Mfeka was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for robbery and 10 years imprisonment each, for the three counts of attempted murder (all taken as one for sentencing).
Sibisi was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for the robbery and 10 years imprisonment each, for the three counts of attempted murder (all taken as one for sentencing).
Ramkisson-Kara said since the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, they will serve effective sentences of 20 and 18 years imprisonment.
She added that both accused were also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
“The NPA acknowledges this successful prosecution and commends the working relationship between the prosecution and our law enforcement counterparts,” she said.