KZN heist suspect, cop killer sentenced

A 32-YEAR-OLD man, arrested in connection with a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist and the murders of two police officers in 2019, has been sentenced.

Sandile Gumede was sentenced to life imprisonment for the CIT heist, and for the murder of Warrant Officer Sifundo Musa and Lieutenant-Colonel Carl van der Vyver.

Hawks spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said the officers, Musa from the Special Task Force and Van der Vyver from Crime Intelligence, were killed in a shootout with heavily-armed CIT robbers in Nongoma, in February, two years ago.

He said seven suspects were also fatally wounded during the shootout with police.

"Gumede was arrested after the incident and was found in possession of the vehicle that was used during the robbery. Hawks members from Pietermaritzburg Serious Organised Crime unit managed to oppose bail successfully, until he was sentenced," Mhlongo said.

He said Gumede was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the CIT heist, and life sentences were meted out to him and his seven accomplices, for the murder of the two police officers.

“He was further sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for each count of attempted murder. Sentences will run concurrently,” Mhlongo said.

The KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation provincial head Major General Leseja Senona welcomed the sentence. “I commend the investigating team for their dedication. It shows that they presented a well-investigated case docket,” he said.