Man gets 20 year sentence for business robbery
ALEXANDRA - A man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a case of attempted murder, possession of illegal firearm and ammunition.
A man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a case of attempted murder, and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
The man, Dumisane Mvelase appeared in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court together with his co-accused for a case of business robbery and pointing a gun at police in 2014. Mvelase’s co-accused was acquitted on a technicality.
The incident occurred at the Boulders Shopping Centre in Midrand when the two men entered a shop, pointed a gun at the shop owner and demanded money. When the shop owner said he had no money, Mvelase allegedly threatened to shoot him before forcing him to his upstairs office which he ransacked but found no money.
Mvelase is alleged to have tied up the owner with wire before joining his accomplice downstairs where they demanded money from a shop assistant who also said he had none. The two were said to have taken airtime vouchers and an undisclosed amount of money from the tills.
When police responded to the scene, Mvelase allegedly pointed his gun at them but they managed to overpower him. His accomplice apparently escaped but was spotted nearby by the public who allegedly assaulted and apprehended him.
Police investigations also revealed that Mvelase committed the offence while out on parole for other crimes of attempted murder, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, and business robbery he committed in 2004.
A legal expert said Mvelase was expected to reappear in court for further sentencing because he violated his parole conditions.
