Two Eastern Cape robbers have been sent to jail for a combined 35 years for robbing a school pupil of his cellphone and stabbing him.
This message rang out in Mdantsane Regional Court 3 two weeks ago when magistrate Bulelwa Gixana handed the stiff sentence to cellphone robbers Thembalethu Ramncwana, 19, and Athenkosi Dudu, 26, who will be locked up for 15 and 20 years respectively.
They were charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances – which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years.
The two had robbed Sinethemba High School pupil Simamkele Nceke, 18, of his Nokia Asha 201 cellphone and some money in June 2014.
The two robbers, armed with a knife, attacked Nceke as he walked to a shop during the school lunch break.
Court records showed Nceke had begged his assailants not to take his phone, but to take the R18 in cash that he had on him instead.
But Ramncwana and Dudu took both the money and the phone.
In the ensuing scuffle, the teen was stabbed four times in his shoulder and chest.
In passing judgment, magistrate Gixana, said the state had to take into consideration the personal circumstances of the accused, the merits of the case against them and society’s interests.
“The incident occurred next to the school and schools are where parents send their children to learn and be educated instead of being robbed.
“You were arrogant as the incident took place during the day. Although there was pleading from the state witness, money had to be paid for the phone to be returned to the complainant, and that was not done.
“You took it a step further and decided to stab the complainant in order for you to get this phone eventually.
“In respect of the interest of the society, when the parents send their children to school, they expect the teachers to be in control and in this case, the teachers could not intervene.
Gixana continued: “All the teachers could do was to take the injured victim to hospital. You have shown little or no respect at all for the rights of the victim and his property, which is his phone. I have since noted that has a propensity . It is in the interest of society that such people are dealt with accordingly and appropriately”.
East London defence attorney Henry van Breda said the sentence “was not extremely harsh given the victim sustained serious injuries”.
“Normally the sentence for robbery of a cellphone ranges between eight to 10 years for a first offender. However, under these circumstances where the victim sustained serious injuries, the minimum sentence for a first offender is 15 years,” Van Breda said.
Ramncwana is single with no children. His highest level of education passed was Grade 8. He told the court he had dropped out of school because of his poor financial situation at home. He was a first-time offender. He told the court he entered the criminal underworld due to peer pressure. Dudu was 24 when he committed the crime. He had been staying with his siblings in NU9 and made a living doing odd jobs. He is single with no dependents. He was not a first offender, having been convicted of robbery in 2011.
The two were represented by Legal Aid SA. Nceke’s family welcomed the sentencing and thanked the police for a thorough investigation. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Cellphone thugs’ 35-year sentence: young pupil robbed, stabbed in ‘cruel attack’
This message rang out in Mdantsane Regional Court 3 two weeks ago when magistrate Bulelwa Gixana handed the stiff sentence to cellphone robbers Thembalethu Ramncwana, 19, and Athenkosi Dudu, 26, who will be locked up for 15 and 20 years respectively.
They were charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances – which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years.
The two had robbed Sinethemba High School pupil Simamkele Nceke, 18, of his Nokia Asha 201 cellphone and some money in June 2014.
The two robbers, armed with a knife, attacked Nceke as he walked to a shop during the school lunch break.
Court records showed Nceke had begged his assailants not to take his phone, but to take the R18 in cash that he had on him instead.
But Ramncwana and Dudu took both the money and the phone.
In the ensuing scuffle, the teen was stabbed four times in his shoulder and chest.
In passing judgment, magistrate Gixana, said the state had to take into consideration the personal circumstances of the accused, the merits of the case against them and society’s interests.
“The incident occurred next to the school and schools are where parents send their children to learn and be educated instead of being robbed.
“You were arrogant as the incident took place during the day. Although there was pleading from the state witness, money had to be paid for the phone to be returned to the complainant, and that was not done.
“You took it a step further and decided to stab the complainant in order for you to get this phone eventually.
“In respect of the interest of the society, when the parents send their children to school, they expect the teachers to be in control and in this case, the teachers could not intervene.
Gixana continued: “All the teachers could do was to take the injured victim to hospital. You have shown little or no respect at all for the rights of the victim and his property, which is his phone. I have since noted that has a propensity . It is in the interest of society that such people are dealt with accordingly and appropriately”.
East London defence attorney Henry van Breda said the sentence “was not extremely harsh given the victim sustained serious injuries”.
“Normally the sentence for robbery of a cellphone ranges between eight to 10 years for a first offender. However, under these circumstances where the victim sustained serious injuries, the minimum sentence for a first offender is 15 years,” Van Breda said.
Ramncwana is single with no children. His highest level of education passed was Grade 8. He told the court he had dropped out of school because of his poor financial situation at home. He was a first-time offender. He told the court he entered the criminal underworld due to peer pressure. Dudu was 24 when he committed the crime. He had been staying with his siblings in NU9 and made a living doing odd jobs. He is single with no dependents. He was not a first offender, having been convicted of robbery in 2011.
The two were represented by Legal Aid SA. Nceke’s family welcomed the sentencing and thanked the police for a thorough investigation. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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