AN alleged member of a highly organised vehicle theft syndicate pleaded not guilty to more than 50 charges, including armed robbery and kidnapping, when he appeared in the Richards Bay Regional Court this week.
Bongumusa Shabalala (34) stands accused of 53 charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, possession of an unlicenced firearm and ammunition and theft.
The State, represented by regional court prosecutor Sharon Bux, is intending to call between 60 to 70 witnesses in a mammoth trial to prove that Shabalala acted in common purpose with four to five other people, unknown to the State.
The gang allegedly hijacked luxury vehicles including in the eSikhaweni area.
The modus operandi in many of the cases were to enter the homes of victims with force, whereafter they were held captive for hours or moved to a different location and held hostage for a period.
Shabalala was allegedly found in possession of a firearm with the serial number filed off.
He is already serving a 15 year sentence for armed robbery.
Regional Court Magistrate Mrs Moodley is presiding and Shabalala is defended by Mr Ndlovu.
