The Western Cape SAPS management has welcomed the 27-year prison sentence handed down to Nelson “Nkwenkwe” Dyantyi for an armed robbery at a private hospital in Durbanville.
On 31 August 2023, Dyantyi gained entry to the hospital through a rear window and confronted patients and staff while armed with a firearm. He stole multiple cellular telephones, laptops, and wallets before fleeing the scene. The incident was reported to the Durbanville Police Station and assigned to Detective Warrant Officer Heiny Marais, whose investigation successfully identified the suspect.
Following a targeted tracing operation, Dyantyi was arrested later in 2023. Prosecutors successfully opposed his application for bail, ensuring his continued detention pending trial.
After a lengthy court proceeding, Dyantyi was convicted on charges of armed robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The court sentenced him to 27 years’ direct imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000.
The Western Cape SAPS management stated that the sentence reflects the seriousness of violent crimes targeting healthcare facilities and reaffirms the police service’s commitment to pursuing perpetrators of armed robbery through thorough investigation and prosecution.