A July Unrest Looter Gets Six Years Imprisonment

The Durban Regional Court sentenced Mvelo Majola,  to six years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the theft of a motor vehicle during the looting and civil unrest that took place in KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021. The vehicle, a Hino truck was one of nine vehicles stolen from Pharmed Pharmaceuticals in Riverhorse Valley on Nandi Drive. In his plea, Majola said, he knew of some people that participated in the looting spree, and one of them had given him the vehicle. Majola told the police, he wanted to use the vehicle to visit some of his friends and relatives and he planned to abandon the vehicle once he was done with it.

He was arrested a few days later when police stopped him and asked about the branded company vehicle. He could not answer their questions, police called the number branded on the truck and the person who answered indicated that the vehicle had been stolen during the looting. The owner was able to identify the truck.

In aggravation of sentence, Regional Court Prosecutor Vishalen Moodley told the court that, thee looting and theft during the unrest were done opportunistically with no regard for rule of law or people’s belongings. He asked the court to pass a custodial sentence, as a warning to others who participated in such reckless behaviour.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)  commends the work of the prosecuting and investigating teams in securing this successful prosecution.

Note: The NPA’s media statements are available on the website: www.npa.gov.za

Issued by: Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

Regional Spokesperson: DPP KZN

Enquiries: nramkisson@npa.gov.za / 0716700229