A man has been jailed for robbery with aggravating circumstances by the Bellville Magistrates’ Court, for a street robbery committed in the area on 2 October 2024.

The case was investigated by Detective Warrant Officer Clinton Lategan of the Bellville Police Station.

At approximately 10:00, the victim left Zone Fitness on Bellrail Road, Bellville, and decided to walk home to Kuils River, Capt Charles Neelse, Bellville Police Station spokesperson, said. Two male suspects approached him, grabbed him and threw him to the ground. The suspects threatened him with a large knife and stole his iPhone 11. When the victim attempted to get up, the suspects kicked him before fleeing on foot and jumping over a wall into a nearby property.

Victim leads police to suspects

The victim was on his way down Strand Street, Bellville, when he flagged a police vehicle down and reported he had been robbed. He returned to the scene with the officers and pointed the property into which the suspects had fled out to them.

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Shortly afterwards, the suspects were spotted in Bellrail Road, and the victim identified them to the officers and both men were stopped and arrested. The victim’s iPhone 11 was recovered and the large knife he was threatened with was confiscated.

Both suspects were brought before the court. During the trial, one suspect pleaded guilty to robbery with aggravating circumstances and agreed to a plea bargain, while the other had a criminal record, having been convicted on other charges.

On 20 April 2026, the suspect who pleaded guilty was sentenced in the Bellville Court to 10 years’ and five years’ imprisonment.