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Conference Ernest Ngwenya (29), of House Number 5566 Lobengula West and his younger brother Welcome, whose age was not given, but stays at House Number 1775 Emganwini had pleaded not guilty to armed robbery, but were convicted by Senior Western Division regional magistrate, Mr Owen Tagu.

Conference, who was convicted on two counts of armed robbery, was sentenced to 24 years in prison of which three years were conditionally suspended for five years.

A further six years were suspended on condition that he pays restitution of $1 306 and 250 Pula to the complainants by 30 June this year.

Welcome was found not guilty on one count and convicted on the other and sentenced to 12 years in jail of which three years were conditionally suspended for five years. A further four years were suspended on condition that he pays restitution of $475 by 30 June this year.

It was the State case that on 15 July last year, at about 3.45 pm, Conference went to osiphatheleni, who operate along 5th Avenue and met Tibhora Manzinde and Prisca Maphosa.

Conference, who was in the company of Ndabezinhle Ngwenya, who is still at large, told them that he wanted to change R6 000 into United States dollars.

The pair and the two complainants then went into Manzinde’s husband’s motor vehicle to carry out the transaction.

The State proved that Conference produced a pistol and ordered the complainants to hand over all the money they had and he was given $893 and 250 Pula.

He ordered them to remain in the motor vehicle and walked away and disappeared into the crowd.

On 25 July, at around 3.30 pm, along Leopold Takawira Avenue and opposite Chicken Inn, Conference and Welcome approached Monica Rabvu and told her that they wanted to change R8 000.

Rabvu, in turn, approached Ronna Mtandwa, who had enough dollars for the transaction and the four of them went into a taxi so that they could carry out the transaction.

Mtandwa counted $950 and handed over the cash to Welcome, who immediately got out of the motor vehicle and disappeared into the crowd.

Conference produced a pistol and first pointed it at the taxi driver before pointing it at Mtandwa for a few minutes and then also got out of the taxi.

The complainant also got out of the taxi and shouted for help prompting Conference to take to his heels with Mtandwa and other osiphatheleni hot in pursuit.

He tried to jump over the perimeter fence at McKeurtan Primary School, but they caught up with him and meted out instant justice.

Detectives arrived at the scene and on searching him they recovered a Noringo pistol with erased serial numbers. They also recovered a magazine with five live rounds of ammunition.

Welcome was arrested two hours later opposite his residence after he saw the police, tried to flee and was shot on the left foot.