Excellent work executed by Western Cape Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in February 2017 resulted in the conviction and sentencing of an armed robber in the Khayelitsha Priority Court yesterday, 04 September 2024. It is reported that on 01 February 2017, nine (9) African males approached security guards at the back of the staff entrance of Shoprite in Parow. The suspects pointed firearms at the guards and entered the shop. The staff members were forced into the staff room. They were then searched by the suspects. All the cell phones of the staff members were robbed from them and placed in a bag. The suspects demanded to see the manager. The manager was then threatened with firearms. He was then taken to his office where the drop safe was. Once in the office, the suspects demanded money. He told the suspects that there was no money in the safe. The suspects then took the money that was destined for the tills and placed it in bags. The suspects then threatened the manager further. He then sh owed them where the grant money (SASSA) was kept. The suspects took an amount of approximately R4 million and also placed it in bags. The suspects then fled the scene. The case was investigated, and arrests were effected were four suspects were apprehended. Yamkela Sima Jacobs (35), Melikhaya Johnson Dlakavu (44), Sphiwo Toba (40) and Thulile Peter (58), were charged with 13 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. On 29 August 2024, Jacobs changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on all charges. He was sentenced as follows: Count 1: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: sentenced to twelve (12) years imprisonment, of which four (4) years is suspended for a period of five (5) years. Count 2-13: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: sentenced to twelve (12) years imprisonment of which four (4) years is suspended for a period of five (5) years. In terms of Section 280 (2) of the Criminal Procedures Act, Act 51 of 1977, it was further ordered that the sentence imposed on counts 2 to 13 wil l run concurrently with the sentence imposed on count 1. Effectively, the accused will serve eight (8) years direct imprisonment. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearm Control Act 60 of 2000. The matter against the other three (3) accused was postponed to 17 September 2024 for legal aid. The Provincial Head of Hawks' Western Cape, Major General Mathipa Makgato commended the excellent work of the team . 'Having realised the risk in pursuing armed robbers, the members remained committed to the cause of protecting lives. Through their relentless pursuit of the suspects, the accused is now removed from society and justice has been served'. Source: South African Police Service