Bridge robbers get 65 years

2009-11-20 13:45

Durban - The two men who hijacked and threw a school teacher over the Mkomazi River Bridge were sentenced to a total of 65 years in jail by the Durban Regional Court on Friday.

Magistrate Anand Maharaj sentenced 20-year-old Wandile Nsibande to 25 years imprisonment and 25-year-old Sibusiso Dlamini to 40 years.

The two robbed Kavisha Seevnarian before throwing her off a bridge on Friday.

Both pleaded guilty to charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping. Dlamini confessed to the attempted murder of Seevnarian. Nsibande had not been present when she was thrown off the bridge.

A third accused, a teenager would appear in the court on November 24, while another was still at large.

The victim's father Jeewan Seevnarian said he was pleased with the sentence.

"I'm very happy with the sentence. I know my daughter will also be glad. This is going to send a message to other criminals that the pen is mightier than sword."

The men hijacked Seevnarian at an intersection in Shallcross on Friday night.

She was put in another car and driven to Umlazi where the men used her bank card to withdraw money from an ATM. She was then taken to the Mkomazi Bridge and thrown off. She survived the 60m plunge and was recuperating from injuries including a smashed spine and fractured pelvis.

- SAPA