Two men sentenced to 15 years for violent cash-in-transit heist

Two men have been sentenced to 15 years' direct imprisonment for their role in a violent cash-in-transit heist in June 2022.

Siyabonga Mncube (30) and Mbongeleni Manyoni (35) were found guilty of ambushing an armoured vehicle on the R103 near Estcourt.

The duo was sentenced in the Estcourt Regional Court this week. 

KwaZulu-Natal Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo revealed that during the heist, the pair fired multiple shots, causing the vehicle to lose control, before disarming security guards and using explosives to blast open the vehicle.

"An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen, and the accused fled the scene in their getaway vehicles," says Mhlongo

The Pietermaritzburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation team responded swiftly, and the suspects were arrested the following day. The duo was found in possession of stolen cash and was charged accordingly

After multiple court appearances, the duo was convicted on 16 July 2025. In addition to their prison sentence, both men were declared unfit to possess firearms.

Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Lesetja Senona, also welcomed the outcome and praised the investigating officers for their excellent work.

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