Two South Africans Sentenced To 8 Years Each For Armed Robbery In Bulawayo

Two South African men who held up a Bulawayo fuel service station and stole more than US$4,000 at gunpoint have been sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison.

Nonjabulo Wisdom Nyoni (30) and Chrisvision Ncube, both from Johannesburg, were found guilty of armed robbery at Bulawayo Regional Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Lungile Ncube. Each was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Two years of each sentence were suspended for five years, on condition that they do not commit a similar crime during that period.

Another two years were suspended on condition that they pay restitution of US$3,058 and R550 by 31 August, leaving each with an effective four-year jail term.

The firearm used in the robbery was seized by the State. The magistrate rejected the accused men’s alibi, saying the evidence against them was overwhelming.

Prosecutor Sehliselo Khumalo told the court that the robbery was carefully planned and involved a firearm, which justified a long custodial sentence.

The court heard that on 4 October 2025, Nyoni, Ncube, and an accomplice known only as Mduduzi, who is still at large, raided Redan Fuel Service Station at the corner of Plumtree and Gladstone Roads in Bellevue, Bulawayo.

The three arrived in a Honda Fit and confronted the station supervisor. One of the robbers grabbed him by the neck, pointed a gun at his head, and demanded money.

Fearing for his life, the supervisor dropped a satchel of cash as instructed. The robbers ordered him to lie down before fleeing with US$4,405 and R1,350, threatening to shoot him.

Police were called, and detectives from the Homicide Section later arrested Nyoni and Ncube. A pistol, US$1,322, and R770 were recovered during the operation.

Investigations to locate and arrest the third suspect, Mduduzi, are ongoing.

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