[Let’s be honest… these incredibly impressive sounding jail sentences really mean nothing. Firstly, they can run concurrently. Secondly, almost anyone can be let out on bail in 5 years or 10 years. What’s the bet these guys will be out on the streets 10-15 years? Jan]

Seven bank robbers were sentenced to a total of 165 years imprisonment by the Johannesburg magistrate’s court on Thursday after a three-year trial, police said.

Sergeant Sanku Tsunke said a substantial amount of money was stolen from four First National Bank (FNB) branches during 2001 – two in Hillbrow, one in Yeoville and one in Market Street, which has since closed down.

The men had been in custody since December 2001 after six of them were arrested by Johannesburg’s Serious and Violent crime unit at the Johannesburg North Taxi rank, and one in Turffontein south of Johannesburg.

Sipho Nala, 43, received the longest sentence of 40 years imprisonment while Delani Mbambo, 37, and Makhiseni Vilakazi, 30, were both sentenced to 30 years.

‘This should send a strong message to criminals’
Andy “Qanda” Ngubane, 42, and Ephraim Thusi, 40, would both serve 15 years in prison and Mandla Sithole, 30, would serve 20. The details of the last robber were not known.

“This should send a strong message to criminals involved in these kind of criminal activities, that they will be dealt with severely and face the full wrath of the law,” said Acting Area Commissioner of Johannesburg, Director Allan Billings.

He congratulated the detectives involved in the cases. – Sapa

Source: Independent Online (IOL)
URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click…/p>