E-hailing driver in dock for popular jewellery store armed robbery

Customers outside the NWJ jewellery shop in Westwood Mall just after it was robbed. An ehailing driver charged with the alleged armed robbery appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo

Customers outside the NWJ jewellery shop in Westwood Mall just after it was robbed. An ehailing driver charged with the alleged armed robbery appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo

Published Sep 27, 2022

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Durban — E-hailing driver Wonderboy Ngema has been charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances, over a burglary at an NWJ jewellery store.

According to the State, the complainant said that on June 30 she was at her place of work at NWJ Jewellery store in Westwood Mall as a sales consultant.

She noticed six unknown African men entering the store. All of them had masks and on were armed with guns.

Ngema is charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances, his case was adjourned to next month for further investigation.

“These African males held the two staff at gunpoint and began removing jewellery from the shelves. They also broke the display cabinets and removed all the jewellery and forced one of the staff to open the safe. They took voucher cards and fled from the store.”

It is further alleged that the suspects used three vehicles to flee from the mall parking. The vehicles were captured on CCTV cameras.

“Police noticed the vehicles travelling at a high speed along the M13. They began chasing the motor vehicles and the suspects began shooting at the police members.

“The one motor vehicle, a Hyundai Accent, grey in colour, was recovered abandoned in the KwaDabeka area. It was established that this vehicle was a hired car.

“The owner of the car hire company was contacted and he went to the police and furnished them with a copy of the ID document and the driving licence and a copy of a bank statement of the person who had hired the motor vehicle,” alleges the State.

The State alleges that these copies belonged to Wonderboy Ngema. Police then proceeded to the address on the bank statement in Newlands East but they could not find Ngema.

“On Tuesday, July 12, members from the Phoenix Trio Crimes Unit received information that the applicant (Ngema) was travelling in a white Toyota Avanza along Nandi Drive. They acted on the information and apprehended the applicant (Ngema).”

Daily News