Accused admits to robbery

Funani says he and two, not four, accomplices robbed stranded couple

A young Needs Camp man accused of robbing a married couple who were stranded on a roadside wants to admit he is guilty of common robbery.

This emerged in Sphamandla Funani’s bail hearing in the East London magistrate’s court on Wednesday.

During the incident Funani, 24, and his accomplices – who are still at large – allegedly pointed a gun at the couple and robbed them of a licensed firearm and cellphone while their child was asleep in the back seat of their car.

The following morning, Funani said, when it transpired that those responsible were known to the community, he had asked his aunt to take the gun and cellphone back to their rightful owners.

This was before the police were called and arrested him.

Funani denied in the bail hearing that they were armed with a gun on the day, saying he would plead guilty to common robbery, but not to the more serious charge of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances.

He confessed to the police about his involvement in the saga, conceding he and two of his friends had robbed the couple.

The state claims Funani was with three other accomplices.

State prosecutor Quado Botha, during cross-examination on Wednesday, put it to Funani that the couple had submitted a detailed statement to the police which said four men had approached their vehicle.

The state alleges that the husband managed to flee.

Botha said when the robbery was over, the wife called out her husband’s name, and he then emerged from the bush.

Funani on Wednesday denied that there had been four of them, and also that a gun was used.

Police detective Thembisa Tyutyu, giving evidence for the state’s case against Funani being granted bail, said after the robbery, Funani had gone home and shown the stolen gun to his cousin, who had since given a statement to the police.

The cousin then told Funani’s aunt and went in search of Funani, and demanded he hand him the gun, which he did.

The aunt then took the phone and gun to the victims’ home.

Funani told the court that when the aunt returned, she told him that the police had already left and that he should remain at home until they returned.

“I then told her to call the police to come back as I knew that what I had done was wrong,” he said.

He is set to appear again in court on December 7.

He will remain in custody until then as bail was denied.