Two teenagers pleaded guilty to charges of housebreaking, robbery with aggravating circumstances and theft in the Grahamstown Regional Magistrate's Court this week.

The pair was arrested after they broke into a block of flats called Holland Place in March. They gained entrance into the house through a window and took mobile phones, a laptop, jewellery, a digital camera, an MP3 music player, and clothing. The items are valued at about R40 000 and all the items were recovered.

The accused also threatened the complainants with a knife when they arrived at the house. However, the complainants Irene Murimi, Emily Muganzi and Tlanelani Gogi did not suffer any injuries during the incident.

In statements read in court by their Legal Aid attorney Lunga Marenene the teenagers admitted to entering the house and taking the items . The staments were signed by the teenagers and their respective guardians. The state accepted the statements and magistrate Samson Dunywa found the pair guilty.

“After reading the staments you have made, I therefore find you guilty as charged,” said Dunywa.

 The case was postponed to October 12 for sentencing, and the accused are still in custody.

Meanwhile, a date for trial was set for other two men who are accused of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Marcus Mncube (35) of Yeoville, Johannesburg and Vusi Dube-Ndlovu (39) of Hillbrow, Johannesburg also appeared in the Regional Magistrate's Court in connection with the robbery of American Swiss in High Street in November 2006.

The two allegedly assaulted American Swiss employees, Bongiswa Mlatsha and Lynette Merle Richies and pointed something that looked like a firearm at them during the robbery. They took off various mobile phones, jewellery and cash estimated at R162 000.00.

 The case was postponed to December 8 for trial.