A Johannesburg man, Sifiso Shabalala, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Johannesburg High Court for his involvement in a brutal robbery.
The court also imposed additional terms of between three to 15 years for various charges including murder, assault, attempted murder, and possession of illegal weapons. Shabalala, who is 28 years old, will serve these sentences concurrently with his life imprisonment.
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Shabalala’s criminal activities began when he decided to rob a group playing dice. He escaped with several cellphones of little financial value.
The crime took place in July 2022, when Shabalala and another man entered a shack where the group was playing. They pretended to be looking for cigarettes and dagga, but when they were told there were none, they left, threatening harm to the group. Shabalala returned later with two accomplices, demanding money and their phones.
The crime resulted in the death of Siyabonga Mazibuko, the assault and stabbing of Simphiwe Sangweni, and the shooting of Ezekiel Beckam Leeuw.
The victims’ lives have been forever changed by the incident. Mazibuko’s mother, Josephine Busisiwe Mazibuko, spoke in court about the void her son’s death has left in her life, as he used to provide her with assistance that she can no longer manage on her own. Leeuw, who used to play professional soccer, testified that the gunshot wound he sustained during the robbery has left him unable to continue his career.
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The judge, Dario Dosia, emphasised the need for a sentence that considers the interests of the community and serves as a deterrent against violence.
He described the accused’s actions as sheer brutality and highlighted the serious concern of violence against innocent victims in the country. The judge concluded that direct imprisonment was the only suitable sentence for Shabalala, considering the gravity of his crimes.
