Tsakane – Thabang Mokone (31) is celebrating victory after the man who shot him seven times in his upper body was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Thabang is happy his shooter has been convicted with the help of the Springs and KwaThema police and Springs Magistrates Courts for affording him justice.
It is alleged on September 2, 2012, a fight ensued between Thabang’s friend and he decided to intervene and stop them from fighting while at a tavern in KwaThema.
This fuelled the suspect’s anger who turned the gun on Thabang for meddling in their business.
Thabang says when they were walking home in the early hours of the morning, the suspect fired two shots at them.
“He called me names and started shooting at me until the gun ran out of bullets.
“I was rushed to hospital and survived the ordeal after being hospitalised for two weeks,” he says.
Thabang says the suspect was arrested a few days after the ordeal and was released on bail but managed to run away.
“He was then re-arrested in 2013 and brought to the book,” he says.
Thabang says he is encouraging residents to have faith in the law.
“We should all report criminal cases to the police and allow them to do their job to keep the criminals off our streets.
“I am calling on eyewitnesses to also come forward and not fear victimisation by the criminals.
“They must know that we will not allow anyone in the community to be victimised and for them to take control and rule the community.
“If it wasn’t for the dedicated investigating officers, the suspect would still be free,” he says.
