Drug dealer Hector Masuku has been sentenced to 12 years for killing Sinenhlanhla
Hector Masuku was sentenced to 12 years for killing Sinenhlanhla Zwane in 2021.
Kwa-Thema – Sinenhlanhla Zwane’s killer, Thabang Hector Masuku, was sentenced to 12 years of direct imprisonment by the Springs Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
After senior magistrate Pravina Lazarus handed down the sentence, Sinenhlanhla’s mother broke into tears.
Lazarus said the court had to consider the accused’s age, that he is not a hardened criminal, showed remorse, co-operated with the court and didn’t waste the court’s time, among others.
On November 7, 2021, Sinenhlanhla was shot in the back of his head for repeatedly demanding his R30 change from his drug dealer, Masuku, in the full view of his friends.
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The court heard that Masuku was high on drugs and alcohol but told the court that he was fully aware of what was happening.
Nhlanhla Ranyabu, who was with Sinenhlanhla at the time, said when Sinenhlanhla told the suspect he was there to collect his R30, Masuku became angry and started to hurl insults.
He told Masuku that he had previously warned him to stop pestering him and then pulled out a gun. Ranyabu pleaded with him not to shoot, but he didn’t want to hear.
Sinenhlanhla’s mother, Victoria Mzizi, said the court had failed her family and her late son.
“I expected a higher sentence. With this sentence, he will be eligible for parole in six years. I know a higher sentence would not bring back my son to life, but this sentence is not enough for killing my son like an animal,” she said.
Mzizi added that some of the information the magistrate considered when determining the sentencing was untrue.
“Hector only pleaded guilty in December after a year of denying that he killed my son. He even went into hiding after committing the crime.
“His family knows us but failed to reach out to us about the incident even during court. I found out about my son’s death on social media three days after the incident.
“I attempted to speak to the mother on two occasions, but she threatened me with a case of harassment. Today, they are telling the court that they attempted to apologise, but we were not interested,” she added.
The family will appeal for a higher sentence.
