A correctional services prison warder, his security guard wife, a prison parolee and an ex-prisoner appeared in the Mthatha magistrate's court on Tuesday charged with the armed business robbery of a retail store in Mthatha in September.
The robbery in question happened at Pick n Pay in BT Ngebs mall.
In the dock were Nkosinathi Qaba of Ngqamakhwe, who is a warder at the medium security Wellington Prison in Mthatha, and his wife Tandokazi Ngcenge, who was working as security guard at Pick n Pay. They appeared alongside parolee Tembela Tokoyi of Libode and ex-offender Thabo Wandisile Qhelu of Ngqeleni.
They face charges of business robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Qhelu and Tokoyi are both unemployed. Tokoyi is out on parole pending finalisation of his sentence in 2022.
Court F was filled to capacity with family members, correctional service officers and Pick n Pay workers eager to hear the matter.
Qaba's presence in particular drew a large number of people, apparently family members, in-laws, friends and colleagues, who chatted with him in cheerful tones until proceedings got under way.
His wife, who was not kept in the court holding cells with the men, cut a lone figure at the front of the courtroom.
The case was postponed to Thursday for a bail application, and they were returned to custody until then.
The couple is represented by Ntsikane Mtshabe of NZ Attorneys and the other two by Sonwabile Lwana.
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