Guard killed in heist: 3 in court

THE trial of three men accused of being involved in a G4S Cash Solutions heist in Capricorn Square in Muizenberg has started at the Western Cape High Court.

Bonile Thimba, Sibusiso Mzomba and Mzonke Mlindazwe face a series of charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.

On March 17 last year, Thimba and Mzomba were allegedly part of a group of robbers involved in a heist at the Pick n Pay in Capricorn Square, Muizenberg.

A shoot-out between the robbers and G4S Cash Solutions security guards ensued and they fled with an estimated amount of R16 370.

The State alleges that a 9mm pistol belonging to one of the security guards was taken. A month after the heist, the three were involved in a business robbery at Spar in Delft.

Money and two firearms were taken. A security guard, Culikhaya Nyembezi, was shot in the head and died on the scene. Another security guard, Mphuthumi Mpambani, was seriously wounded. Both were employed by Fidelity Cash Paymaster Services.

About R160 000 was taken in the robbery.

For Nyembezi’s murder, the State indicated that the minimum sentence of 15 years applied.

“The offence was committed by a person, group of persons or syndicate acting in the execution or furtherance of a common purpose or conspiracy,” the court papers read.

As part of an investigation of the accused on June 15 last year, at a raid at Mzomba’s girlfriend’s home in Taiwan settlement, Khayelitsha, police confiscated the 9mm firearm stolen from a security guard in the Muizenberg heist with the serial number removed.