Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

14 August 2024

A 32-year old Cyprian Lebohang Mabuza was convicted by Bethal regional court recently to four years imprisonment for possession of a hijacked truck worth four hundred thousand rand and possession unlicenced firearm and ammunition.

Mabuza’s conviction followed after he was arrested by police attached to Secunda flying squad after a complaint of truck hijacking was reported and dispatched about the truck heading to Middelburg on the R35 on Wednesday 19 July 2023.

The police swiftly responded to the complaint and drove towards the direction where the truck was heading where they managed to stop it.

Upon stopping the truck, two males jumped off the truck and tried to run away from the police.

They were instructed to lay down for the police to conduct a search on them.

While searching them, police found one of the suspects in possession of a firearm, a 9mm pistol containing five(5) live ammunition with serial number filed off and when asked about the license of the firearm, he could not provide the police with documents permitting him to be in possession of such firearm.

As soon as the docket was registered, it was allocated to Detective Sergeant December Jele for further investigations.

During the investigation, he discovered that the victim was driving from Witbank with Lebohang Mabuza and while driving between Kriel and Bethal, he pointed him with a firearm instructing him to stop the truck where he was joined by his co-accused to tie the victim’s hands with cable ties leaving him in the field on the Kriel road. Further investigation revealed that:

– The accused was previously convicted for the same offence in Witbank and Cullinan, Gauteng province.

– The accused was released on parole in March 2023 which was ending in March 2032 and according to parole conditions set for him, he has violated the conditions.

– The parole board informed the investigating officer that the accused is considered “a hight risk” since he was sentenced previously for the same offence.

– There was a warrant of arrest issued against the accused which was pending at Masoyi police station for theft of motor vehicle.

During his sentencing at Bethal regional court, the Magistrate stated that on 19 July 2023, the accused did unlawfully and internationally assaulted the victim and forcefully took the truck worth R800 000 and a cellphone using a knife to induce fear and submission; unlawfully had in his possession a 9mm pistol without holding a licence, permit or authorization issued in terms of the Act 60 of 2000of the firearms Control Act which further read with Section 250 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of 1977 and that the accused did unlawfully and intentionally deprived the victim his freedom of movement by placing him into a vehicle boot, locking him in such boot, driving away with him against his will and further hand cuffed him and dropping or dumping him in an unknown location.

After all the evidence presented before court on 18 July 2024, the Magistrate saw it fit to convict the accused and sentenced him as follows:

– Count 1: (Four)4 years direct imprisonment for Possession of stolen property.

– Count 2: (Four)4 years direct imprisonment for possession of unlicenced firearm and ammunition. Both sentences are to run concurrently and In terms of Section 103 Act 60 of 2000 of the firearms Control Act, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm.