Notorious hijacker behind bars
A NOTORIOUS local hijacker, who has been linked to several cases over the years, has been convicted and sentenced at the Empangeni Magistrates Court.
Bongani Magubane (37), is a name which has tormented police after he had been initially arrested in 2004, granted parole in 2015 and then rearrested on numerous occasions.
According to the police, Magubane was convicted of robbery with aggravated circumstances and sentenced to imprisonment in December 2004. He was released on parole in December 2015.
In July last year, Magubane was rearrested after police linked him to a series of hijacking cases, but he was released on bail.
In August, while out on bail, Magubane was once again arrested on charges of yet another hijacking.
The ZO reported that on 21 August he was denied bail at the Empangeni Regional Court, after which Correctional Services escorted him back to prison.
However the case was soon withdrawn because ‘technically he still complied with his parole conditions’.
Another arrest followed for hijacking and he was released on bail for the second time.
Early this year Magubane was rearrested and this time was denied bail.
The case eventually went to trial with Magubane subsequently being sentenced, together with his co accused Sambulo Magubane (23), last month.
While it is unclear if there is any relation between Bongani and Sambulo, the two were sentenced to 12 and 8 years imprisonment respectively for robbery.
KZN vehicles
According to reports, Magubane is said to have targeted State-owned vehicles, with one of his most recent hijackings being that of an ambulance vehicle near Enseleni.
He was linked to two other cases via fingerprint identification and via possession in another case.
Police told the ZO Magubane had sold a vehicle to a man in Nkandla, who was arrested on charges of driving a stolen vehicle. Upon questioning, the man told police he had purchased the vehicle from Magubane.