MBONGENI Maloyi (37), Ntando Ntobongwana (35), and Lazola Mfulana (41) were convicted by the East London Regional Court on 30 September 2024 for racketeering, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and kidnapping.
Their co-accused Thembinkosi Kwana (45) and Yanga Jenette (37) were found not guilty.
According to Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, their conviction came after they were arrested by the East London Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit of the Hawks between 2013 and 2016, respectively, and were remanded in custody ever since their arrest.
Mhlakuvana said that during the period between 2013 and 2014, British American Tobacco vehicles were delivering cigarettes to various retail spaza shops around East London and surrounding areas.
“The trio reportedly approached the delivery vehicle crew members and accosted them with firearms, taking cash from the victims which was collected from the shops and kidnapping the victims,” he explained.
“Thereafter, they drove the employees to unknown places, offloaded the remaining boxes of cigarettes to their vehicles, then later abandoned the delivery vehicles and fled from the scene. Consequently, the British company suffered a loss to the value of over R2.3 million,” he added.
According to him, the case was referred to the Hawks for a thorough probe.
“An intensive investigation by the investigating team of the Hawks ensued, which led to the arrest of the accused. Further investigations established that the trio was involved in numerous cases that had happened in various areas and surroundings,” he added. “The accused made several court appearances in an attempt to be granted bail, but all in vain until their conviction by the East London Regional Court on September 30.”
Their matter was remanded to October 17 for sentencing.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, welcomed the sterling job by the East London Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks for their outstanding work in ensuring the conviction of the trio, effectively combating violent criminal tendencies in society.
