Luyanda Fuzile, one of the men arrested for the murder of Table View’s Sergeant Nameto Molemo and the attempted murder of his colleague, Malibongwe Mnani, during a robbery in 2021 has pleaded guilty in court.
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On 26 November 2021, Lyanda Fuzile and three others arrived at GR Spices in the Killarney factory zone, allegedly on the pretence of looking for work. When the men were turned away, they pulled out 9mm guns and held two employees at gunpoint.
This is according to Fuzile, who says the robbery was planned as far back as October 2021, and that a final meeting was held a day before the incident.
News24 reports that the code for the safe was forcibly demanded from an employee to get money, after which the group used two employees as human shields to leave the building as the police arrived.
Upon realizing they were surrounded, the gunmen opened fire on the police and security guards. Molema and Mnani were among the first responders to the scene. While Mnani was shot in the leg, Molema sustained a gunshot to the head. Although he was rushed to the Milnerton Mediclinic, he did not survive.
Fuzile made it clear that he was not the one who killed Molema. In his plea agreement, he said he did understand that there was the possibility of bloodshed due to his involvement in the robbery.
He is a married father of three children and lives in Dunoon. According to News24, he only made Grade 9 and has qualifications in plastering. He was reportedly unemployed at the time of the robbery.
Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani says Fuzile has been sentenced to:
- Count one: Robbery with aggravating circumstances (15 years),
- Count two: Kidnapping (five years),
- Count three: Murder (25 years),
- Count four: Attempted murder: (five years),
- Count five: Possession of an unlicensed firearm (15 years), and
- Count six: Possession of ammunition (two years).
He will serve 25 years, as the sentences imposed for robbery, kidnapping, attempted murder and possession of a gun and ammunition will run concurrently with the penalty for murder.
The other three accused will appear in court for trial on 20 October 2023, and will remain in custody.
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Armed men open fire on police officers during robbery in Nyanga
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