The Mthatha High Court has successfully granted the Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation together with National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit preservation order against a motor vehicle which was utilised in the commission of a violent armed robbery at Matatiele. The preservation order was granted on 20 March 2026, authorises the restraint of a white Toyota Corolla with an estimated value of R99 000.
On 25 March 2018, SAPS members responded to actionable intelligence concerning an armed robbery perpetrated at a spaza shop in Lukholweni. The perpetrators were armed with firearms, executed a brazen attack, forcibly seizing cash, and tobacco products.
In a rapid, intelligence-led response, law enforcement operatives initiated a targeted search for a vehicle described as a white Toyota Corolla, believed to have facilitated the suspects’ escape. Upon identification, the vehicle failed to comply with lawful instructions to stop, precipitating a high-speed pursuit. Through disciplined tactical coordination, members successfully intercepted and immobilised the vehicle, thereby averting potential further risk to the public. The vehicle was occupied by the suspects which were identified as Richard Thomas (38) and Simthembile Badela (46).
The vehicle was searched, yielded critical evidentiary material directly linking the accused to the commission of the offence. The recovered items which were found inside the vehicle included, a shotgun with defaced serial numbers, live rounds of ammunition, stolen cigarettes, cash, and pepper spray. During questioning, the suspects were unable to provide explanations for being in possession of the items and were immediately arrested. All exhibits were meticulously processed and seized for further probing.
The matter progressed through the criminal justice system with prosecutorial diligence, culminating in the successful conviction and sentencing of the accused. Thomas was sentenced to fifteen (15) years of direct imprisonment and Badela was sentenced to sixteen (16) years of direct imprisonment.
The granting of the preservation order by the court prohibits the use of the asset unit the finalisation of the matter.