TWO MEN SENTENCED FOR ROBBERY COMMITTED DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

21 November 2025

TWO MEN SENTENCED FOR ROBBERY COMMITTED DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Johannesburg – The Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court has sentenced two men, Innocent Phiri (54) and Blessed Ncube (36), to 15 years’ imprisonment each for robbery with aggravating circumstances. The offence was committed in Atterberry, Pretoria, in May 2021 during the national COVID-19 lockdown.

The complainant and colleagues were at their workplace, sitting around a fire at night, when they were approached by two armed men. Phiri and Ncube pretended to be delivering a parcel. When one of the employees attempted to call the manager, one of the assailants grabbed the phone, threatened them with a firearm, and restrained them using cable ties. The assailants stole a trailer, a small Caterpillar (Bobcat), and several cell phones belonging to the victims. They then fled the scene in a silver-grey bakkie towing the stolen trailer. Later that night, officers from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) stopped the vehicle in the Greenstone area after becoming suspicious due to movement during lockdown.

Upon checking the trailer's details, officers discovered it had been reported stolen in a robbery case. A search of the vehicle revealed two firearms and multiple cellphones. Although the victims could not identify the attackers due to poor visibility at the time of the offence, the State relied on the doctrine of recent possession, given that all stolen items were found in the accused’s possession shortly after the robbery.

The accused claimed they had been hired by an individual known as “Tyson” to deliver the trailer to Isando and denied involvement in the robbery. However, Regional Court Prosecutor Lesley Munyai argued successfully that the possession of the stolen property, combined with the victims’ testimony that they had been threatened with firearms and robbed of their phones, proved the pair’s involvement beyond a reasonable doubt. This successful conviction reflects strong collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the vigilance of JMPD officers, whose alertness was pivotal in apprehending the perpetrators.

Issued by:

Phindi Mjonondwane

Regional Spokesperson

NPA Gauteng Division, Johannesburg