Man arrested for robbing couple of casino money in Pinetown
A 29-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly robbing a couple and their friend of money they had cashed out at a casino.
Siphosethu Ndovela appeared in the Pinetown magistrate’s court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody. He is expected to return to court on October 27 for a formal bail application.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said the robbery took place on the night of August 21, when a 50-year-old man, his 59-year-old wife and their 58-year-old friend left a casino near Umdloti after the man cashed out an undisclosed amount of money.
The trio left the casino at about 11pm in a BMW X3 and a Ford Ranger. When they arrived at their residence in Bartlett Road, Pinetown, they were allegedly confronted by two armed suspects who robbed them of the money and the woman’s handbag.
Netshiunda said Flying Squad officers on routine patrols drove alongside the suspects’ getaway vehicle while the robbery was under way. The officers came under fire but managed to take cover without being injured, while the suspects fled.
A white Toyota Yaris fitted with false registration plates was spotted leaving the scene. Investigations later established that a white VW Polo had also been used in the robbery.
Netshiunda said Ndovela was identified as the owner of the Polo and was arrested on Monday by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit detectives.
Police are searching for the second suspect, whose identity is known to investigators.