Post Office robber sentenced to life imprisonment – SAPS Crime Report: 2021-09-29 13:32:46

South African Police Service

Office of the Provincial Commissioner Eastern Cape

MACLEAR – SAPS endeavours continue to yield positive results as a heavy sentence was handed down as a result of the quality investigative skills adopted by our dedicated detectives.

The efforts of our investigators from the Maclear Detective Unit were rewarded when Sinethemba Zungula, aged 36, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder.

It is alleged that on 15 January 2019, at 08:40, three men robbed the Maclear post office.  At that stage one of the suspect’s was an employee at the post office.

The two suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash and hijacked a Telkom vehicle that was on the same premises.

The police gave chase until the vehicle was left abandoned on a gravel road from where the suspects fled on foot.

The police chase continued   and during a shootout with police one of the suspects was fatally wounded. He was identified as Sonwabile Somyalo (40).

A R4 rifle was found next to the body of the deceased suspect.

The remaining suspect could not be traced at that stage however, after intense investigations by the investigator and his colleagues, the post office employee, was arrested.

He led the investigation team to the second suspect who initially got away.

On the 19 February 2019 the second suspect Sinethemba Zunula (36) from Chulunga location Qumbu was arrested.

On 21 September 2021 the accused, Sinethemba Zunula (36) was found guilty at the Grahamstown High Court and convicted as follows:

Count 1 Robbery – 20 years

Count 2 Murder (as a result of his co accused who was shot by police)-  life imprisonment

Count 3 Attempted murder- 10 years

Count 4 Attempted murder – 10 years

Count 5 – possession of firearm – 10 years

Count 6 – possession of ammunition — 5 years

The post office employee was found not guilty merely because he gave the explanation that he was forced to participate in the robbery.

The acting District Commissioner Brigadier Rudolph Adolph commended the meticulous and professional investigation by the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Lwando Tshetsha and also the collaboration between the SAPS and NPA which led to the lengthy prison term.

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