Feared gangster sentenced to two life terms

Standing in the dock with a furrowed brow Phumlani Nkosi, a notorious gangster from Lindelani informal settlement, was sentenced to two life terms plus 34 years at the Pretoria High Court sitting in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on February 20.

Acting judge Ian Cox handed Nkosi two life terms for two counts of murder, three months each for two counts of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, eight years for attempted murder, 12 years for rape and eight years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Nkosi’s particulars will be registered in the national register for sex offenders, and he was deemed unfit to possess a firearm.

He was convicted last year in November following his arrest on March 3.

He initially faced three counts of murder. One of the charges was changed to attempted murder due to insufficient evidence.

Sentencing the 41-year-old, Cox shared that Nkosi showed no remorse and failed to take responsibility for his actions. He said all the citizens of South Africa have a constitutional right to life, respect and dignity.

“The court shows no mercy to those that unjustifiably seek to invade those laws. Murder, rape and armed robberies are some of the most violent and also prevalent offences committed and tried by the regional and high courts. Life has become cheap for some people who do not hesitate to kill another for no reason.”

Cox said the accused took the lives of two people, one of whom he attempted to rob and further raped the victim’s girlfriend.

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“Having regard to the facts of the incidents, it would be fair to conclude that the accused is a violent person. He used a knife during all three events and during the commission of the offences he was charged with. In regards to the victim impact reports, it is clear the murders had a vast impact on the deceased men’s family members.”

It was revealed in court that in December 2020, Nkosi approached the deceased, Sabelo Mthimkhulu, and accused him of stealing his television.

Mthimkhulu apparently denied stealing anything. Nkosi took out a knife and stabbed him in broad daylight while holding his dog.

The judge said the victim’s girlfriend had two children and was four months pregnant at the time of his untimely death. The child is now two years old.

“They were robbed of a father who was a breadwinner in the family. Since the death of the deceased, she had to survive on child grants and struggled to sleep because she was experiencing nightmares.”

In another incident on November 19, 2021, at about 23:00, a couple walked from a tavern to where they were staying when Nkosi, armed with a knife, approached them. He stole their cellphones and uttered threats. He thereafter stabbed and killed Prince Maribe. Nkosi took the girlfriend to another location and raped her.

Cox shared the girlfriend was in a relationship with the deceased for three months when he was killed.

“Not only did she observe his killing, but she was raped in a filthy toilet. How degrading was that? She depended on the deceased to provide for her as she described the deceased as loving, caring and emotionally supportive.

“She reportedly lost 15kg since the ordeal and cries a lot when alone. She had to undergo treatment for six months to prevent an unwanted pregnancy and from contracting HIV,” said Cox.

Nkosi, a father of six, was reportedly not a first-time offender.

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