Two residents of Letsitele Township, Wilson Moila (36) and Gilbert Ramatladi (29), will spend the next 15 years behind the bars. Their armed robbery case was finalized in the Tzaneen Regional Court on Monday.

The case is related to an incident that took place at No 26 Carlifonia Farm in the Letsitele area during the night of April 29, 2004.

The court heard that the accused had proceeded to the complainant’s house during the night of the incident. The complainant was sleeping at that stage. The court further heard that the accused broke in and pointed a firearm at the complainant.

They then stole three cellphones and two firearms before driving away in the complainant’s Toyota Hilux bakkie. The accused were in hiding for several weeks before their arrest. They appeared in the Tzaneen magistrate’s court, where they were granted bail.

After paying the bail, the accused never returned to court. That resulted in the court’s issuing a warrant of arrest for the accused. They were arrested again towards the end of last year. The case was remanded several times before it was referred to the Tzaneen Regional court, where it was finalized Monday.

They were each sentenced to 15 years in jail for armed robbery. The SAPS in the Mopani area have welcomed the sentence, saying it will send a clear message to the criminals to be that crime does not pay.