Men get 12 years for cigarette robbery

Two men have been sentenced to 12 years in prison following their conviction for the armed robbery of a cigarette van.

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Cape Town – A Cape Town court has sentenced two men to 12 years in prison following their conviction for the armed robbery of a cigarette delivery vehicle in which they also kidnapped the driver.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut said the Khayelitsha Priority Crimes Court sentenced the men on Thursday for the armed robbery which occurred two years ago.

The two men, Mazwi Tweni, 38, and Mxolisi Phanyaza, 31, were each sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for hijacking and armed robbery and three years for kidnapping.

“In May 2013, the crew of a cigarette delivery vehicle was approached by six armed men in Du Noon Milnerton, who forced them to drive for a few kilometres to where they offloaded several boxes of cigarettes with a substantial value into a Toyota Quantum taxi.

“Four of the six men were arrested shortly after the robbery and all the cigarettes were recovered. The robbery was captured on the on-board video surveillance system of the delivery vehicle.”

The other two suspects were acquitted as they could not be linked to the crime.

ANA