Johannesburg – Self-confessed Fast Guns gang member Tyrone Jones will never terrorise the community of Riverlea again after the High Court sentenced him to two life terms plus 122 years in prison.
Jones was convicted and sentenced for 13 counts including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, robbery, attempted robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Evidence in court showed that Jones started his reign of terror within the community of Riverlea on 14 September 2021, until his arrest in June 2022.
Several cases had been reported with the Langlaagte South African Police Service (SAPS) wherein children as young as 12 years of age and adults were robbed of their belongings by Jones.
He was well-known to his victims as he was born in Riverlea. Jones lived in the same area as his victims.
The court heard that Jones started his criminal escapades using open hands and later became more aggressive by using a knife and ultimately graduated to using a firearm.
On 15 June 2022, Jones killed two people in that area.
Eyewitnesses came forward to the police with information about the murder leading to the arrest of Jones.
Upon his arrest, more complainants emerged.
They complained that their cases against Jones had been neglected over the years.
Eight dockets against Jones were identified and allocated to the Johannesburg District Detective Unit, led by Colonel Mlungisi Ayanda Mapanga.
The unit investigated the cases and brought them before the court where Jones was convicted.
During sentencing, Senior State Advocate Monde Mbaqa emphasised the severity of the crimes committed by Jones and underscored the importance of upholding the rule of law to preserve the fabric of society.
He called witnesses in aggravation of sentence.
In one of the murder counts, the deceased’s wife testified that they had three children, who are now fatherless, and that she also lost a hardworking husband who took care of the family.
In the second murder charge, the father of Bandile Rueben Binza, the Uber driver shot and killed by Jones, implored the court to show no mercy. Jones had pretended to be a client requiring an Uber service before he mercilessly shot the driver dead.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, Advocate Andrew Chauke, extended his gratitude to witnesses, whose evidence ended Jones’ reign of terror in the Riverlea community.
Advocate Chauke further remarked that the sentence signals the relentless efforts of communities in working closely with law enforcement authorities to dismantle criminal enterprises and safeguard the communities.
