Three suspects convicted of murdering a police officer have been sentenced in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
Luzuko Yalezo, 40, Mzukusi Ntetha, 34, Athenkosi Kolanisi, 32, were convicted on multiple charges including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.
The sentence emanates from various incidents.
In the first incident, on August 12, 2021, Sergeant Sakhumzi Mbucela was attacked by three African men while sitting in his vehicle waiting for his child. He was forced out of the vehicle and was stabbed in the chest by one of the suspects.
They hijacked the vehicle while the officer walked to the house where his son was. He requested his daughter to get a vehicle to take him to the hospital but the court heard while waiting they noticed a patrol vehicle which stopped and transported the police sergeant to Melomed Hospital in Gatesville.
Mbucela was admitted to hospital but died two days later on August 14, 2021.
He was stationed at Wynberg police station.
On September 8, 2021, a witness to the police sergeant’s murder was shot while in the Europe informal settlement in Gugulethu. The witness managed to escape without injuries. The court heard the attempt on the witness’ life was perpetrated by Mbucela’s murderer.
On November 23, 2021, at about 5pm, the same witness who managed to escape unharmed was kidnapped in Nyanga at his friend’s house. The victim was forced into a white vehicle which drove away with him.
His body was discovered under the bridge in Malema informal settlement in Philippi, at about 6pm on the same day. He sustained gunshot wounds to his head.
The Western Cape spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said its Bellville National Priority Violent Crimes team (NPVC) took over the investigation and this subsequently led to the arrest of the suspects.
“Athenkosi Kolanisi was arrested on August 23, 2021,Mzukisi Ntetha on December 7, 2021 and the last one, Luzuko Yalezo was arrested on January 14, 2022. The three accused were linked through the confession statement, the possession of the deceased property as well as by eyewitnesses,” Hani said
The matter started in the regional court but was later transferred to the Western Cape High Court for trial.
On May 14, all three accused entered into a plea agreement with the State and were convicted.
On Monday, May 18, Yalezo was sentenced to 20 years direct imprisonment for the murder of the police sergeant, 15 years direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 10 years direct imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder, eight years direct imprisonment for pointing a firearm, 11 years direct imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm, and 11 years direct imprisonment for possession of ammunition.
Yalezo was sentenced to 28 years direct imprisonment for the murder of the witness, and eight years direct imprisonment for kidnapping.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently. Yalezo will effectively serve 28 years’ direct imprisonment.
Mzukisi Ntetha was sentenced to 25 years direct imprisonment for the police sergeant, 15 years direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, and Ntetha will effectively serve 25 years’ direct imprisonment. The court further ordered him unfit to possess a firearm.
Athenkosi Kolanisi was sentenced to 20 years direct imprisonment for the murder of the police sergeant and 15 years direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, and Kolanisi will effectively serve 20 years’ direct imprisonment. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The head of the Hawks in the Western Cape, Major General Mathipa Makgato, welcomed the sentences.
Makgato congratulated the investigating and prosecuting team for ensuring that the killers did not go unpunished.
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Robin-Lee Francke
iol.co.za