PRETORIA tycoon William "Mashobane" Mbatha was yesterday treated like a hero by his fans, who had gathered outside the Johannesburg High Court to bid him farewell before he starts serving a lengthy jail sentence.
Mbatha, 38, who is also popularly known as the "King of Bling" for his love of flashy cars, expensive houses and clothes, was sentenced to an effective 35 years in prison.
He was convicted earlier this year on a number of charges, including robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, possession of firearms and ammunition, posing as a police officer and unlawfully wearing a police uniform.
During the robberies home owners were handcuffed and suffocated with plastic bags by robbers who impersonated policemen, complete with police reflector vests and police identification documents.
Most people who had converged on the high court clapped hands when members of the police tactical response team and Ekurhuleni intervention unit whisked Mbatha away to Johannesburg Prison (Sun City) to begin his sentence.
Mbatha presented a brave face and hugged his family members before being taken away.
When sentencing Mbatha, Judge Naren Pandya lambasted him, saying he had caused pain to his victims and that all his crimes had been well planned and executed.
"It was clear that proper homework was done before the robbing of the victims," Pandya said.
"The robberies were committed in broad daylight. He did not show any remorse and maintained his innocence. House robberies are endemic in Johannesburg and not a day passes without a family being robbed."
One of Mbatha's victims, Yun Cai, was robbed of his jewellery, cash and two Silver Star Casino chips worth R100,000 each. Yun was attacked while returning from a casino. Another family was also attacked and robbed of US dollars, a firearm, jewellery and cash.
During his heyday he had interests in a number of businesses - from which he earned over R100,000 a month. Mbatha also owned seven minibus taxis and a café in Pretoria.
The State has since attached his three Harley-Davidson motorbikes, a house worth R2.4-million and furniture worth more than R2-million.
Mbatha has another multi-million rand house in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, and one in Hartbeesfontein, North West, and a night club in Pretoria.
Mbatha must still appear in the Germiston and Pretoria courts later this month to face more charges similar to the ones he was convicted of yesterday.
'King of Bling' jailed in style
PRETORIA tycoon William "Mashobane" Mbatha was yesterday treated like a hero by his fans, who had gathered outside the Johannesburg High Court to bid him farewell before he starts serving a lengthy jail sentence.
Mbatha, 38, who is also popularly known as the "King of Bling" for his love of flashy cars, expensive houses and clothes, was sentenced to an effective 35 years in prison.
He was convicted earlier this year on a number of charges, including robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, possession of firearms and ammunition, posing as a police officer and unlawfully wearing a police uniform.
During the robberies home owners were handcuffed and suffocated with plastic bags by robbers who impersonated policemen, complete with police reflector vests and police identification documents.
Most people who had converged on the high court clapped hands when members of the police tactical response team and Ekurhuleni intervention unit whisked Mbatha away to Johannesburg Prison (Sun City) to begin his sentence.
Mbatha presented a brave face and hugged his family members before being taken away.
When sentencing Mbatha, Judge Naren Pandya lambasted him, saying he had caused pain to his victims and that all his crimes had been well planned and executed.
"It was clear that proper homework was done before the robbing of the victims," Pandya said.
"The robberies were committed in broad daylight. He did not show any remorse and maintained his innocence. House robberies are endemic in Johannesburg and not a day passes without a family being robbed."
One of Mbatha's victims, Yun Cai, was robbed of his jewellery, cash and two Silver Star Casino chips worth R100,000 each. Yun was attacked while returning from a casino. Another family was also attacked and robbed of US dollars, a firearm, jewellery and cash.
During his heyday he had interests in a number of businesses - from which he earned over R100,000 a month. Mbatha also owned seven minibus taxis and a café in Pretoria.
The State has since attached his three Harley-Davidson motorbikes, a house worth R2.4-million and furniture worth more than R2-million.
Mbatha has another multi-million rand house in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, and one in Hartbeesfontein, North West, and a night club in Pretoria.
Mbatha must still appear in the Germiston and Pretoria courts later this month to face more charges similar to the ones he was convicted of yesterday.
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