A former Tactical Response Team (TRT) officer was sentenced on murder and attempted murder charges in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
After the correctional supervision report was submitted, 32-year old Xolani Mbatha was sentenced to 15 years for murder, three years for attempted murder, plus another 18 months on minor charges.
The sentencing on all charges will run concurrently with the murder sentence.
Mbatha previously appeared in the Regional Court, standing accused of killing his girlfriend. The shooting happened just before midnight at the girl’s home in Willemse Street, Hyde Park, in 2013. It is believed that a heated argument broke out between the officer and his girlfriend, which led to a shot being fired.
Mbatha’s girlfriend, Pumla Nokulunga, was fatally wounded by a single gunshot to the neck.
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