Heavy jail sentence for midnight robbery brothers

TWO brothers, who threatened a shop owner with a gun and robbed him of his belongings in June 2010, were found guilty at eSikhawini Regional Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Bhekisisa and Sakhile Stanley Gumede, a Zululand notorious robbery pair with a long list of other cases pending in various courts, were not only found guilty of the crime but also received heavy sentences.

Bhekisisa, who was the first accused, was sentenced to 22 years behind bars while his brother Sakhile will serve 17 years inside a correctional facility.

The pair was charged with housebreaking and robbery after they broke into the house of businessman Sipho Khubisa (42) at Obanjeni Reserve.

They kicked down the door at midnight and found the victim and his fiancé sleeping and then robbed them of their money, cellphones and vehicle.

During the lengthy court case headed by prosecutor E Royappen, the victims testified how they were woken up by a big bang as the perpetrators broke down their main door.

The robbers produced a firearm and threatened them before leaving with over R9 000 and other belongings.

The pair were arrested and charged after Khubisa reported the case to the police.

In a surprising twist during the trial, it transpired that the two brothers are known robbers who have been terrorising the Zululand community.

While the court case was still ongoing, Bhekisisa was sentenced at Empangeni Magistrate’s Court to 10 years for another robbery.

The brothers still have four other similar cases pending in courts, which include house break-ins, robbery and theft.

During the sentencing, Magistrate P Madida had no mercy and said the 2010 robbery was a carefully planned offence, which deserved ‘suitable punishment’.