SPHAMANDLA Innocent Nxele (29) was convicted and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment by the Cameperdown Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 30 May. Four years of the sentence were suspended for five years.
According to Cpt Bongumusa Manqele, spokesman for the Pinetown SAPS, the Pietermaritzburg Tactical Response Team members were working in Mpumalanga Township on 11 January, 2012 at approximately 3.30am when they received information about a person who was in possession of an unlicensed firearm in the Georgedale area. The members proceeded to the address, and upon arrival they searched the house of the accused and found a .38 special revolver with five live rounds of ammunition.
“Nxele was immediately placed under arrest and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Nxele made several appearances in court until he was finally convicted and sentenced,” said Manqele.
