Cop killers sentenced in Eastern Cape court
Four men who killed five law enforcement officers at an Eastern Cape police station will spend life behind bars.
The Mthatha High Court in the Eastern Cape has sentenced four men implicated in a string of crimes, including the killing of five police officers, to life in prison.
Andani Monco (36), Kwanele Ndlwana (28), Siphosomzi Tshefu and Phumzile Mhlatywa (51) were sentenced yesterday.
They were each sentenced for five counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, numerous counts of the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, numerous counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and housebreaking with an intent to commit an offence.
Their co-accused Siphesihle Tatsi has since been sentenced to an effective 18 years’ direct imprisonment as some counts in his collective 241-year sentence run concurrently, after pleading guilty on July 27, 2023.
On February 21, 2018, five police officials from the Engcobo Police Station were killed and robbed of their firearms.
The police station was attacked and firearms, ammunition and a police van were stolen. The accused further attempted to bomb a Capitec Bank ATM.
“Responding to information received, Monco, Ndlwana, Tshefu, Mhlatywa and Tatsi, who [was part of] the Mancoba Seven Angels church, were arrested. Seven [others] were killed during a shoot-out with police a few days after the horrific police [officers’] murders,” said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in a statement yesterday.
“The accused have been in custody since their arrest,” it added.
After the sentencing of Tatsi, the remaining four opted to go to trial, hence their conviction on May 17.
Sentencing was remanded several times until yesterday, when the Mthatha High Court sentenced them as follows:
- Andani Monco (36), with some counts running concurrently, will effectively serve 35 years’ direct imprisonment.
- Phumzile Mhlatywa (51), with some counts running concurrently, will effectively serve 25 years’ direct imprisonment,
- Kwanele Ndlwana (28) and Siphosomzi Tshefu (age not known) will each serve 40 years’ direct imprisonment.
All the effective sentences, for each accused, will run concurrently with the five life sentences. – SAnews.gov.za
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