In a significant ruling on Tuesday, 23 May 2023, the Verulam Regional Court handed down a 20-year prison sentence to Sicelo Zindela (49), who was found guilty of an attempted cash-in-transit heist that occurred in Tongaat, Durban.
Sicelo Zindela gets 20 years for Tongaat cash-in-transit heist
The incident took place on 10 December 2020 when Zindela and his accomplices targeted security guards who were in the process of reloading cash into an ATM at a local supermarket.
During the heist, a violent confrontation ensued as Zindela and his associates attempted to seize a cash box.
The situation quickly escalated, resulting in a fierce shootout. In the chaos, the accused fled the scene on foot, leaving one of their own fatally wounded.
However, Zindela’s run from the law was short-lived. Thanks to the quick thinking of an off-duty police officer, he was apprehended and found to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The Tongaat police station received a report of the attempted cash-in-transit heist, and the case was assigned to members of the Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit within the Hawks for a thorough and intensive investigation.
Following the completion of the investigation, Zindela’s bail application was opposed, resulting in his detention until his sentencing.
The court subsequently delivered its verdict, imposing a 15-year prison term for the attempted cash-in-transit heist.
Additionally, Zindela received a 10-year sentence for the murder of his accomplice, three years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, and five years for attempted murder.
It is important to note that the sentence for the attempted cash-in-transit heist will run concurrently with the murder charge, while the possession of an unlicensed firearm will be served concurrently with the attempted murder charge.
As a result, Sicelo Zindela will spend a total of 20 years behind bars.
