By Ziyah News Court Reporter
North West – A Zimbabwean man has been slapped with an effect eight year jail term after being convicted on charges of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition; and contravention of Immigration Act 13 of 2002 in the Ventersdorp Magistrates courts in the North West province of South Africa.
Samuel Ngonyamo, will be repatriated to serve his jail term in his home country of Zimbabwe together with his co accused Oliah Mthethwa (44) whom he was with on the day of arrest. The latter was sentenced to R1000-00 fine or three months imprisonment on a charge of contravention of Immigration Act 13 0f 2002.
It was the state’s case that in October of 2023,members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT) received information about two men who were alleged to be in possession of a firearm near a certain restaurant in Ventersdorp according to a briefing from the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari.
“The information was operationalised, and the police searched a bag the duo was carrying. Inside the bag, an AK 47 rifle with magazine and ammunition were allegedly found. It was also established that the suspects did not possess documents to be in the country and were subsequently apprehended.”
The accused were denied bail, and following a series of court appearances, they were convicted and sentenced.The North West Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari lauded the investigation and prosecution team for ensuring that the accused are brought to book.