Man gets 8 years for robbing MEC
2013-03-04 10:17
Cape Town - A man convicted of robbing Western Cape finance
MEC Alan Winde of his cellphone has been sentenced to eight years in jail, it
was reported on Monday.
The Cape Argus reported that the Cape Town Regional Court
sentenced Xolani Dyidi to 10 years, two of them suspended for five years, for
armed robbery.
Winde and his bodyguard were cycling at Paarden Island in
November when they saw two men standing in the cycling lane.
Dyidi, 25, accosted Winde and he fell to the ground. His
phone was snatched and his bodyguard gave chase.
Dyidi was arrested soon after, but the other suspect got
away.
Magistrate Wilma van der Merwe reportedly said Dyidi's
criminal record showed a complete disregard for people, their possessions and
the criminal justice system.
"That road is for the Bus Rapid Transport system. It is
supposed to be the flagship of how good a public transport system can be and
then you go ahead and do stuff like this," Van der Merwe reportedly said.
"This crime is very, very prevalent in this court's
jurisdiction."
She said similar crimes made up 72% of the total number of
cases before her last year.
- SAPA
