BLOEMFONTEIN – The ring leader of a sophisticated syndicate that terrorized clothing stores across the Free State between 2019 and 2022 was sentenced to a combined 470 years in prison.
Sgt. Mahlomola Kareli, spokesperson for the police in the Free State, said the SAPS welcomes the significant sentence handed down by the Virginia Regional Court against Taole Eric Tlatsa (70), the mastermind behind the violent criminal enterprise.
For three years, Tlatsa and a group of armed accomplices systematically targeted 13 clothing chain stores from different towns around the Free State.
Their cold and calculated modus operandi involved entering stores under the guise of being ordinary customers, overpowering staff and customers at gunpoint. The suspects used cable ties to bind victims before holding them captive in storerooms while looting large sums of cash, high-end mobile devices, and merchandise.
The investigation lead by Sgt. Morena Machalotsa of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit led to the arrest of eight suspects and revealed that Tlatsa acted as the organizer of an informal criminal organization, coordinating the planning and execution of these robberies.
On Monday, 16 March Tlatsa appeared alongside eight co-accused. Faced with an airtight case including video footage and the testimony of over 70 state witnesses, Tlatsa elected to plead guilty.
During sentencing, the State successfully argued that Tlatsa’s plea was a result of overwhelming evidence rather than genuine remorse. His extensive criminal record was also highlighted as an aggravating factor.
The Virginia Regional Court sentenced him to a combined 470 years in prison. The court found no compelling reasons to deviate from prescribed minimum sentences, leading to the effective sentence of 25 years’ direct imprisonment.
A separation of trials has been granted for the remaining eight co-accused, whose legal proceedings continue.
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Free State Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Apaphia Modise welcomed the sentence: “This sentence sends a clear message to syndicates that the SAPS will tirelessly pursue those who organise and execute violent crimes against our business community. We commend the investigative team and the 70 witnesses who stood ready to ensure justice was served.”
