The well-known “King of Bling” William Mbatha was convicted on twenty four counts of crimes he committed in South Africa by the South Gauteng High Court in Brackendowns, Sandton this week.
Mbatha's victims were handcuffed and suffocated with plastic bags by robbers who presented themselves as police officials wearing police reflector jackets and in possession of police ID documents.
Since 2007, police worked tirelessly to gather evidence to ultimately bring this man to book. However, in August 2011 among others, crucial evidence which linked William "King of Bling" Mbatha to the robbery of an Alberton family went missing.
However, another victim, Ishmael Omar told the Johannesburg High Court in April 2009 that a William Mbatha together with other robbers was captured on CCTV camera when he was ambushed at his house in 2009. Omar was robbed of about R200 000 in cash, electronic equipment, guns and jewellery.
During the trial drama erupted on the 26 Jul 2011 when two men believed to be friends of flamboyant tycoon William Mbatha were arrested outside court for R850 000 house robbery.
Four members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Tactical Response Team (TRT) were escorting Mbatha to court when they alighted from their vehicles arrested these men.They were searched and police found watches and a cell phone in a black shoulder bag.
In another incident, it was alleged that Mbatha and an accomplice presented themselves as police officers before assaulting Chandar Manjani and Vijay Ghanshamdas and then robbing them of money, a watch, a cellphone car keys.
In December 2008 he allegedly assaulted Yubiao Cai, Andy Qinhen, Merriam Mokgadi and Yun Cai and robbed them of a ladies' watch, silver necklace, wallet, two Silver Star Casino chips valued at R100 000 each, another chip worth R1 000 as well as an amount of R26 350.
Later that month Mbatha, again using the same modus operandi, accosted Peter Mojapelo, assaulted him and hijacked his Mercedes-Benz, and stole ID documents, driver's license, clothing, R40 000 as well as two cell phones. The value of the stolen items is said to be R700 000. There are more cases in other provinces still outstanding.
Mbatha has been on trial since 2009 until his convictions on Wednesday, 7 March 2012, William Mbatha was convicted on the following charges:
- Robbery with aggravated circumstances four counts.
- Kidnapping four counts.
- Unlawful possession of firearms four counts.
- Impersonating police officials four counts.
- In possession of police uniform four counts.
The case has been postponed until 15 March 2012 for sentencing.
Mbatha is from Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, apparently owned three houses then, including a R2.5 million mansion in Irene, and a weekend home at the Hartbeespoort Dam. He was also the director and stockholder of the Ramsquare Café and Jazz Pub and the owner of Mbatha Travel.
The police management has welcomed the conviction of Mbatha.
Media Contact:
Colonel Tummi Shai
Cell: 082 826 6181
