06 Dec 2022

The Broadhurst Magistrate Court on Monday learnt that the quartet of accused persons in the P2.3 million G4S Security Company cash heist had, in an effort to evade arrest, abandoned the silver grey Toyota Fortuner that was used in the robbery.

The escapade transpired after the prosecution witness, Mr Levity Ndlovu (32), a panel beater and spray painter, revealed that on October 13, 2021 while on duty at his workshop in Mogoditshane, got disturbed by the sound of a silver grey Toyota Fortuner driving at high speed and pursued by a police van.

At first, Mr Ndlovu said he thought that the driver was trying to evade arrest, but later realised that there was more when he heard suspected gunshots not far from his work station.

He said out of the blue, he was approached by a man wearing a blue t-shirt and a black leather jacket.

“He was coming from the direction where the Fortuner was packed and pointed a gun at us and demanded to be handed the car keys or else he will open fire at us,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said fearing for his life, he directed the man with the gun to a blue VW Passat, which was parked and left with the keys in the ignition.

Realising that they had secured what they we looking for, he said three other men alighted from the Fortuner and followed the one holding the gun to the VW Passat.

“They were carrying a checked bag, which appeared to be weighty and loaded it into the VW Passat and drove away living the Toyota Fortuner behind,” he said.

Meanwhile, another witness, Mr Tshepo Simba (45) told the court that on the day, he was was robbed of his car at gun point by a man whom he identified in court as the fourth accused person, Ntholephi Elliot Ntshalintshali.

Mr Simba, a resident of Mogoditshane, told the court that time he was waiting in his car to  consult  with the prophet, who resided behind GIPS flats.

Mr Simba said an unknown man approached and borrowed who his car.

“I was shocked by his request since I do not know him and I thought it was a joke and I responded to him jokingly and laughing only for the man to pull up his t-shirt revealing a gun.

That was when I realised that the situation was serious.

I handed him the keys, abandoned the car and ran into the prophet’s yard,” said Mr Simba.

He said the prophet and the other client who was still consulting got out of the consultation room, to get sight of what was happening.

At that point, Mr Simba told the court that the man who was in possession of his car drove towards a VW Passat that was packed nearby.

He opened the boot of my car, a blue Vitz of registration B 618 BLV and transferred some luggage from the VW Passat into my car,” he said.

He said the luggage that was offloaded from the VW Passat and transferred into his car was in a checked bag, locally known as Mozimbabwe and appeared to be heavy.

Mr Simba said he also suspected that part of the checked bag’s contents was a gun, as its barrel protruded.

However, he said as the men drove away in his car, the situation drastically changed as the location was surrounded by the police. He said a police helicopter was hovering above them, while there were members of the disciplined forces on foot and others driving vehicles.

He said they had blocked all the access roads and therefore the men who forcefully took his car were surrounded.

“I was later approached by a police who told me that the men who attempted to drive away with my car had been arrested and that since my car was involved in a criminal activityI will not be able to get it immediately,” he said.
Mothusi  Matomela, Thapelo Lekobe, Mzwandile Mazibuko and Ntholephi Ntshalintshali are charged with armed robbery, unlawful possession of fire arm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of goods stolen outside the country.

On the first count of armed robbery, the four accused persons, acting together and in consent, armed with pistols and rifles, robbed G4S Security Company cash amounting to P2 310 000, an AK47 rifle and a pistol on October 13, 2021 at Turn Right Mall, along Gabane road.

Mazibuko and Ntshalintshali, South African nationals, are also facing another count of entering Botswana through an ungazetted point. ENDS