Robbers to do 15 years in the slammer

The Free State High Court sitting in Harrismith yesterday sentenced a 31-year-old man to over 43 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to five counts which included attempted murder, robbery and house breaking with intent to rob, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.

Acting Judge Paul Zietsman slapped Thabo Shadrack Motloung with the heavy sentence after he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder, a count each of robbery and house breaking with intent to rob and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Motloung was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison for each count of attempted murder, 15 years for house breaking with intent to rob and robbery, four years for unlawful possession of a firearm and six months for unlawful possession of ammunition. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

In a statement Free State NPA spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said Motloung will however serve an effective 15 years behind bars after Justice Zietsman ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

According to the state, Motloung, together with his co-accused, May Paul Zulu, 39, broke into the house of Johannes Hendrik Kritzinger and his wife Margaretha Johanna Kritzinger at Brakdam Farm in Vrede on July 12 last year while the couple was at church with intent to rob them. The accused took two cellular phones, a firearm and R1 300 cash.

When the couple returned, they found the two accused in their house. The accused shot the husband in the chest and demanded that the wife gives them keys to the safe. They threatened to shot him again if she did not give them the keys to the safe.

After she failed to comply, they shot her husband again, but this time in the head. They then shot the wife in the stomach and on her head before leaving with several items that they took from the house.

Motloung was arrested the same day after he handed himself over to the police. Zulu was arrested three days later. The state separated the cases of the two accused after Motloung confessed to the crime. Zulu pleaded not guilty and his trial has been scheduled for January 30 – February 10 next year.

Arguing in aggravation of sentence, state prosecutor, Advocate Colin Steyn, stated that even though the accused had shown remorse, he had committed serious offences as they shot a helpless couple. He said community expected the courts to be harsh when dealing with such crimes.

Judge Zietsman concurred with the prosecutor and stated that the courts may not depart from the minimum prescribed sentence for flimsy reasons.

The Director of Public Prosecutions in the province, advocate Xolisile Khanyile welcomed the sentence: “We hope that these sentences will have a deterrent effect on like-minded offenders.”