By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mbuso Moloi, the infamous ‘Woolworths looter’ from the July 2021 civil unrest, was sentenced to three years in the Durban Regional Court on Friday.
The 32 year old, pleaded guilty to theft and contravention of the traffic regulations in March.
This after he was seen leaving a Woolworths outlet in Glenwood, Durban central, carrying a basket full of items that he did not pay for and then putting his loot in a luxurious Mercedes, for which the number plate did not correspond with the licence disc.
A social worker from the Department of Social Development, who assessed Moloi, told the court on Friday that direct imprisonment would be too harsh a sentence.
The prosecution argued that Moloi’s offence affected the economy, and businesses like Woolworths had to increase security, which caused a hike in food prices.
The Durban Regional Court accepted Moloi’s guilty plea to theft and contravention of the Road Traffic Management Act, and handed him three years imprisonment suspended for five years.
In addition, Moloi will also has to perform 16 hours of free community service every month.
The total number of months for the community service will be determined by the correctional services commissioner.
The court has heard that the so-called “Woolworths looter” lost a job in the United Kingdom after he was caught on viral video footage looting a Woolies outlet during the July 2021 civil unrest.
In his plea, Moloi said that on the day, he and his friend were driving around with the intention of purchasing some items.
When they drove into Davenport, he noticed that people were emerging from a Woolworths store.
Moloi said at the spur of the moment, he stopped his vehicle and went into that store.
He said he picked up a plastic shopping basket and filled it with a few items. He then left the store without paying and placed the basket in his vehicle before driving off.
When a court imposes a suspended sentence, it means that the offender has been found guilty of a crime but is not immediately required to serve the sentence in prison. Instead, the court provides an opportunity for the offender to remain in the community, subject to specific conditions and supervision.
The conditions of a suspended sentence can vary depending on the nature of the offence and the individual circumstances of the case. Common conditions may include regular reporting to a probation officer, undergoing counselling or rehabilitation programs, refraining from certain activities or associations, or paying restitution to victims.
If Moloi successfully complies with the conditions during the specified period, the suspended sentence remains in effect, and he will not have to serve the prison term.
However, if he fails to meet the conditions or commits another offence during the suspension period, the court may revoke the suspension and require the offender to serve the original sentence.
His vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz C300 coupe, has since been forfeited by the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Meanwhile former Ukhozi FM DJ and alleged July unrest instigator, Ngizwe Mchunu, has accused the state of “twisting” his words.
He’s charged with incitement to commit violence and breaching the Disaster Management Act.
This is in connection with a press briefing he hosted during the July 2021 unrest and the calls he made there for former President Jacob Zuma’s release from prison.
Earlier in his evidence-in-chief, Mchunu insisted that he called the briefing that day to try and bring calm to the situation and said his use of words like “fight” was figurative.
Under cross-examination, though, public prosecutor Yusuf Baba on Thursday afternoon read out a translation of his address at the briefing, where he said: “Let us fight, even if we fight until we lose our heads, to make sure the former president must be released.”