Man jailed for robbery and kidnapping

A Wallacedene man was sentenced in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court, on Wednesday August 21, to 26 years in jail for robbery, kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to Kraaifontein police spokesman Captain Hein Hendricks, Simphiwe Celesi, 24, robbed and kidnapped a bread-delivery truck driver and his passenger in Esitishini Street, in June last year.

“Later that day, he was spotted on the Lofdal Road, in Bloekombos, while driving the truck with the victims locked up in the back of the vehicle. When he noticed the police, he fled on foot but was caught by the police in possession of the unlicensed firearm,” said Captain Hendricks.

Celesi was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for aggravated robbery, five years’ imprisonment for kidnapping and six years’ imprisonment for the unlawful possession of a firearm.

“The kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm sentences will run concurrently with the robbery aggravating sentence,” he said.