Four men have been convicted by the Pinetown Regional Court for a series of armed robberies targeting schools in KwaZulu-Natal, where teachers were robbed of their cellphones and forced to transfer money from their banking apps.
Mthobisi Wonder Shozi, Lebo Nhlakanipho Magwaza, Brian Tyron Charles, and Sbonelo Sxolile Mkhulisi gained access to schools by posing as sponsors offering assistance, before pulling out firearms and robbing staff.
One of the robberies took place at Nazareth Primary School on February 2, 2023, where Magwaza forced the principal to open her banking app and transfer money. However, she had only about R100 in her account, so no transfer was made. He instead stole her wedding ring and wristwatch.
Another robbery occurred at Edamini Primary School near Shongweni Dam on February 8, 2023.
On February 20, 2023, the group targeted Tholulwazi Secondary School in Molweni. During the robbery, Shozi struck teacher Nhlanhla Mchunu three times in the face with a firearm, leaving him bleeding profusely, before firing a shot inside the school.
Magwaza assaulted teacher Maureen Mtshali by striking her on the temple with a firearm and hit teacher Mthunzi Gabela on the back of the head. A pupil was also forced at gunpoint to provide Magwaza with her cellphone number. Seven staff members were cable-tied and locked inside a strongroom for between 30 and 40 minutes.
Later that day, Gabela recognised all four accused at Pinecrest Mall in Pinetown while going up the escalators and immediately alerted police.
The court heard that the group used a grey Toyota Etios as the getaway vehicle, driven by Mkhulisi. Police later recovered an alternative number plate hidden in the boot of the vehicle, which Mkhulisi admitted was used when visiting schools.
Charles initially escaped through a window when police arrived at his home, but was later handed over to authorities by his father, a sergeant attached to Chatsworth SAPS.
In delivering judgment, Magistrate Muntukayise Khumalo hailed the State, led by prosecutor Rowan Souls, for straightforwardly delivering its case.
“All four accused have been sufficiently linked to these offences,” he said.
“There can be no doubt that as many as these witnesses were in this case, they have throughout been impressive and projected themselves as being honest and reliable witnesses throughout this trial,” Khumalo said.
He rejected the alibi defences raised by the accused.
“Their alibi is irreconcilable with the objective evidence and the credible testimony presented by the State,” Khumalo said.
The magistrate also noted that Shozi and Mkhulisi elected not to testify, while Magwaza and Charles took the witness stand but were found to be unreliable.
Referring to Magwaza’s girlfriend, who testified for the defence, Khumalo said: “The mother of his child was clearly a mendacious witness trying to assist the accused to get out of the mess he had placed himself in.”
The four men also face separate charges in the Camperdown and Pietermaritzburg magistrates’ courts relating to additional school robberies allegedly committed using the same sponsorship ruse.
Shozi is already serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to unrelated robbery charges in the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court.
Magistrate Khumalo is expected to sentence the four men early next week.
