MOPANI – Two young men, Mpho Mohojane (27) and Patrick Morema Polutsi will each spend the next 25 years in jail. Their armed robbery case was finalised in the Tzaneen Regional Court last Friday.

The incident relating to the case took place at the Sedan Farm near Moeketsi during the night of June 07 last year at about 21:00.

The court heard that during the night of the incident the accused proceeded to Mr Johan Van der Riet's farm house. They assaulted Mr Van der Riet and the other family members with various objects, including the butt of a gun. Mr Van der Riet was seriously injured during the incident.

The accused stole jewellery and other valuable household items from the house before vanishing into the surrounding bushes. They were arrested several weeks after the incident, following the police's thorough investigations. The police revealed that it was their sound relationship with the local residents that had led to the arrest of the accused.

The case had been remanded several times in the Tzaneen Magistrate's Court, before it was referred to the Regional Court where it was finalised last Friday.

In the statement that was released earlier this week, the police have expressed their satisfaction about the sanctions that have been imposed on the accused, saying the sentences will send a clear message to the criminals to be that "crime does not pay".