PHUTHADITJHABA – The third member of a gang responsible for a string of armed business robberies at a shopping mall in the Free State has been sentenced to 14 years’ direct imprisonment.
Thapelo Makhubo (29), from Intabazwe near Harrismith, was sentenced by the Phuthaditjhaba Regional Court after being convicted on charges linked to three armed robberies at a sports retailer in Phuthaditjhaba Mall between November 2022 and January 2023.
The court also declared Makhubo unfit to possess a firearm.
His sentencing follows the convictions of his co-accused, Tshehla Radebe and Kgadime Mokoena, who were each sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment on 25 May 2026 for their roles in the robberies.
According to police, the gang repeatedly targeted the same sports store over a three-month period. During the first two robberies, the suspects demanded the keys to the store safe from employees but failed to gain access. Instead, they fled with staff members’ personal belongings, including cash and mobile phones.
On their third attempt, however, the gang succeeded in obtaining the safe keys before stealing store-owned mobile phones worth about R100 000, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash from the safe.
No employees were physically injured during any of the incidents.
The conviction follows an investigation by the Free State Provincial Serious and Violent Crime, Murder and Robbery Unit in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia commended Warrant Officer Thabang Mbele and Sergeant Kgahliso Lephoto for their persistence in bringing the case to a successful conclusion. He also praised the National Prosecuting Authority for securing the convictions.
“This sentence sends a crystal-clear message to would-be criminals that crime does not pay,” Lesia said.
The successful prosecution brings to a close the case against all three members of the robbery gang, ending a crime spree that repeatedly targeted the same retail outlet over several months.
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