Ndudi Anyim
The Madadeni High Court has sentenced one Mgeyi Gumede, to 15-years imprisonment for co-ordinating a robbery operation at Fidelity Security Service.
Preliminary investigation revealed that in September 2017, the suspect and his gang members attacked and stole R12 million from the organisation.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in KwaZulu-Natal, Major General Lesetja Senona, said the arrest of the suspect follows an initial arrest of one Mbuyiseni Mthembu, a security guard at the organisation, involved in the crime.
Senona in his explanation of the events that led to the arrest said: “ In September 2017, a group of heavily armed men entered the Fidelity Security Service premises in Vryheid and held the security guards at gunpoint. They made away with more than R12 million.
“ An intensive investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Richards Bay and Newcastle resulted in the arrest of Mbuyiseni Mthembu immediately after the incident. It was discovered that Mthembu, who was a security guard colluded with his friends to commit the crime.
“ In September 2019, Gumede was arrested and taken to court for trial. He has been in custody throughout the trial. He was convicted last month and sentenced on March 2, 2021 to 15 years direct imprisonment. He will be joining his co-accused, Mthembu who is already serving his sentence. ”
He also commended the investigating and prosecuting teams for an outstanding job, as he encouraged them to continue with their efforts to ensure that justice is served.