William mashobane mbatha biography

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 interventio