Post Office robber sentenced to life imprisonment

Police said an Eastern Cape man who was convicted of robbing a post office in January 2019 had been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Grahamstown High Court.

THE MAN RECENTLY APPEARED IN THE GRAHAMSTOWN HIGH COURT

According to police spokesperson Captain Ursula Roelofse, three men robbed the Maclear post office.

“At that stage, one of the suspects 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.”

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

ALSO READ: WATCH: Fifteen armed men storm shop in Gateway Shopping Centre

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

“An 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.”

Roelofse said this 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.”

ALSO READ: Man accused of murdering wife and baby escaped with three other prisoners

The court sentenced him to 20 years for robbery, life imprisonment for murder (as a result of his co-accused that was shot by police), ten years each for two counts of attempted murder, ten years for the possession of a firearm, and a further five years for the possession of ammunition.

The court acquitted the post office employee from any charges as he had explained he was forced to participate in the robbery.

The Acting District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Rudolph Adolph, commended the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Lwando Tshetsha, for a meticulous and professional investigation conducted that ensured the hefty sentence.