Durban men sentenced 155 years behind bars for hijacking
Earlier this week the Durban Regional Court slapped two men who went on a hijacking spree in the Montclair, south of Durban to 155 years collectively behind bars.
Sphamandla Sithole and Sizwe Mkhungo made all sorts of headlines back then in 2018. Their reign of terror shocked Durban and Mzansi at large from car hijacking to alleged human trafficking.
According to state papers, their crime spree after the two hijacked an e-hailing taxi driver after they requested a taxi ride. It is said that the two tried to put him into the car boot, however, he ran away and they sped off with his car.
On the second count, the two hijacked two victims and also took their cellphones and other belongings. On the third occasion, the victim was hijacked and thrown into the boot of her car. The men drove around with her for some time before releasing her.
Durban men sentenced 155 years behind bars for hijacking
The court heard that on the fourth occasion Mkhungo carried out the job alone in the absence of his partner. According to Natasha Kara Regional Spokesperson the Directorate of Public Prosecutions the later harassed and threaten his last victim at her place.
“He accosted her outside her house, demanding her car keys. Even though she handed over the keys, he tried to enter her house, but she blocked his way and alerted the people inside causing him to flee in her car,” she said.
The two were nabbed after some intel was leaked about their hijacking spree. They were identified by victims after they were put under identity parade and were positively identified by the victims.
Regional Court Prosecutor, Surekha Marimuthu also had vehicle tracking records that incriminated the two. In their statements, the victims spoke of the trauma and horror they went through when they were attacked by the accused. They said they feared for their lives.
Sithole was sentenced to 85 years (effectively 40 years as some sentences run concurrently) while Mkhungo got 70 years (effectively 25 years).