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Lundi Mzimkhulu (36) was sentenced by the Queenstown Magistrate’s court on April 26, 2024 for charges of robbery and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
This adds to his previous 15-year sentence by Whittlesea Magistrate’s court on March 7, 2024.
His co-accused, Khanyiso Dlali (26) and Sibusiso Nzuzo (40) were previously sentenced by Whittlesea Magistrate’s court to undergo 28 years direct imprisonment collectively. The accused escaped from lawful custody at Whittlesea Correctional Services where they were incarcerated during the period.
The trio was sentenced on March 7, 2024 for charges of armed robbery with aggravated circumstances and escaping from lawful custody.
On August 14, 2020, Mzimkhulu and his co-accused who were inmates escaped from Whittlesea Correctional Services where they were incarcerated. During the incident, the prison warders were busy closing the prison doors straight after the inmates were coming from the exercises and preparing Mzimkhulu for court.
Subsequent to that, wardens heard someone knocking at the door and they quickly opened, they noticed the scuffle between inmates and wardens as a result one of the inmates forcefully disarmed the warden his service pistol.
Furthermore, the wardens were pointed with a firearm and ordered to hand over the cell keys, their cell phones as well as their uniform. Moreover, the trio reportedly locked the wardens inside the toilet and escaped.
On the same day, a manhunt was launched, and three months later the escapees in question were apprehended including Mzimkhulu who was driving a stolen vehicle and in possession of unlicensed firearm.
Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana of the the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS) said they were all arrested by the integrated operation inclusive of Queenstown based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks as well as Tactical Response Team (TRT).
Preliminary investigation established that Mzimkhulu robbed a police official of a service pistol and his vehicle at Mdantsane. Mzimkhulu appeared before Whittlesea Magistrate’s court and was remanded in custody since his arrest.
He made several court appearances until he was sentenced on April 26, 2024.
Mzimkhulu was sentenced to five years imprisonment for possession of stolen vehicle, 10 years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed firearm and three years imprisonment for possession of ammunition. Therefore, Mzimkhulu will undergo 18 years direct imprisonment.
"The remarkable determination by the investigating team is applauded by the Provincial Head of the Hawks Major General Obed Ngwenya for making sure that they leave no stone unturned," Mhlakuvana concluded.
