Tebogo Msimanga |
A 41 Jabulani Moses Yika who was arrested in 2020 in connection with a cash-in-transit robbery that claimed the lives of two Hawks officers was sentenced before the Mmabatho High Court on 17 February 2023.
The cash-in-transit robbery took place in Mahikeng on 06 March 2020 which led to the fatal shooting of Detective Warrant Officer Delene Grobler-Koonin (44) and Detective Warrant Officer Wynand Herbst (42).
North West Hawks Spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said the armed gang allegedly shot and forced a cash security van off the road and attempted to blow it open, ordered security officers out of the vehicle and took both their firearms. “No access was gained into the safe on the vehicle. At that point, members of the National Intervention Unit approached the suspects and the suspects fled off, leading to a resultant high speed chase”.
Rikhotso said later in the day, the suspects were cornered at a Total garage near Coligny where another shootout ensued and Detective Warrant Officer Wynand Herbst was shot during the crossfire. “Three suspects were fatally wounded and two were arrested. Warrant Officer Herbst succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital”.
Yika is sentenced to thirty (30) years in imprisonment. Meanwhile, the matter against the other accused has been remanded to 27 February 2023 for trial.
