The Hlanganani Regional Court sentenced three men to jail on charges of robbery last Wednesday (30 January). The case relates to an incident at Nthabalala Primary School on the night of 9 April 2011.

The court imposed a jail term of effectively ten years each on Mupo Mashaba (29) and Liberty Sithole (35). The court was merciful towards Cyril Fumani Sithole (21), who told the court that he was still a pupil and he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment.

Adv Mokete Rakgokgo, for the State, said Cyril Sithole was a greedy pupil who showed no respect for school property which was meant to better other pupils' lives. “You stole from the school which ought to provide you with an education,” Adv Rakgokgo said.

It was heard in court that the accused had entered the school yard through the hole which they had cut in the fence. They then went straight to the guardroom and stabbed the elderly security guard three times with a knife in the back, ribs and buttock. He bled profusely and lost consciousness. Then they covered him with a blanket before proceeding to the classrooms, where they stole school property, including computers, a water pump and toiletries.