Publications
Partners
Gqeberha High Court convicted Siphamandla Mdlalose (50), Sibusiso Ngcobo (47), Lubabalo Mntanase (31) and Sibusiso Majola (51) for racketeering, numerous counts of housebreaking, theft, money laundering and possession of illegal firearm as well as ammunition. The fifth accused Phumlani Bono was acquitted.
During September 2019, members of a gang called Crowbar were identified. The National Priority Violent Crime (NPVC) team of Gqeberha-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation(SOCI) of the Hawks embarked on a major investigation about the five members of the gang.
"The investigations led to the arrest of Mdlalose, Mtanase and Bono in the same year (2019), Ngcobo in 2020 and Majola in 2023. The five were remanded in custody for the duration of the trial," Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said.
"During the period between March,1 2019 and September, 18 2019, members of the Crowbar gang used hired vehicles when breaking into victims’ residential homes. The syndicate was linked to 41 housebreakings during the six months period in 2019. They looted more than R4 million worth of household appliances and jewellery during the break-ins," Mgolodela added.
The quint made numerous court appearances in Gqeberha High Court until their conviction and sentencing on November 3, 2023.
The sentence was as follows:
1.Siphamandla Mdlalose (50) for:
- count 2(racketeering) – 15 years direct imprisonment.
- count 3 – 44 (housebreaking) – 20 years direct imprisonment.
He is to serve an effective 20-year term as sentences run con- currently.
2. Sibusiso Ngcobo (47) for:
- count 2 (racketeering) – 15 years direct imprisonment.
- count 3 – 44 (housebreaking) – 20 years direct imprisonment.
Ngcobo is to serve an effective 20-year term as sentences run con- currently.
3. Lubabalo Mtanase (31) for:
- count 2 (racketeering) – 15 years direct imprisonment.
- count 3 – 44 (housebreaking) – 20 years direct imprisonment.
- count 45 (money laundering - 15 years direct imprisonment
- count 46 (possession of illegal firearm) - 15 years direct imprisonment
- count 47 (possession of ammunition) – 2 years direct imprisonment
Mtanase is to serve an effective 25-year jail term.
4. Sibusiso Majola (51) for:
- count 2 (racketeering) – 15 years.
- count 30 – 44 (housebreaking) – 10 years.
Majola is to serve an effective 15 years jail term.
Charges against Bono were withdrawn and was thus acquitted.
The Provincial Head Major general Mboiki Obed Ngwenya lauded the NPVC team for securing the retributive sentencing of the gangsters through their expert investigation skills. .He further reiterated that this kind of sentencing will serve as a deterrent to the would perpetrators of such crimes.
