News24.com | Mpumalanga man sentenced for botched robbery in which he was shot, accomplice killed

A man was jailed for robbery.

• A would-be robber was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a botched business robbery in Mpumalanga.
• Thomas Thabo Mayisa was wounded during the attempt to rob a Somali shop owner while his accomplice was killed.
• A second accomplice, who drove their getaway car, was never found.

A Mpumalanga man has been handed a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to an attempted business robbery in which he was wounded and his accomplice was killed.

Thomas Thabo Mayisa was sentenced in the Evander Regional Court on Tuesday.

On 30 December 2021, Mayisa, 32, and two accomplices arrived at the shop in Leslie Extension 9 in a Renault Megane with Gauteng registration numbers. The Somali shop owner was with his brother when Mayisa and his accomplices arrived.

Police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala said two would-be robbers entered the business premises while the third man waited in the car. One suspect was armed with a firearm, while the other had a knife.

"The brother of the business owner was hit in the back with an object. After that, both victims were held hostage," Mohlala said.

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"They demanded cash, but the shop owner [distracted] Mayisa's [accomplice] by pointing to where the money was kept. The [accomplice] got distracted and looked in that direction.

"That was when the shop owner swiftly drew his firearm and shot him (accomplice) multiple times, leading to his death. The victim further turned the gun on Mayisa and shot him in the thigh," said Mohlala.

Mayisa jumped into the getaway car and he and the driver fled the scene, leaving behind their fatally wounded accomplice.

"Further investigations led the police to a hospitalised patient with a gunshot wound. Police later discovered that the patient was Mayisa, whom they had been looking for.

"Mayisa was then arrested and charged. The driver of the getaway vehicle was never found. Mayisa denied knowing the driver and claimed they only hired him for their failed mission," Mohlala said.