The Delmas High Court sentenced Seetsa David Mofokeng (44), Mojalefa Christopher Matsobane (43) and Thembisa Zulu (47) to life in prison for the murder of Zulu’s husband on July 4, 2011.
The three were found guilty on September 17 of the murder of Devillier Dan Zulu, a taxi owner from eMbalenhle.
He was shot dead in front of his gate in Ext 15, eMbalenhle.
The murder case was registered and transferred to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit based in Secunda.
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During an intelligence-driven investigation, it was established that Thembisa Zulu hired two hitmen, Mofokeng and Matsobane, to kill her husband.
Dan Zulu arrived home at about 04:00 on the day of the murder and phoned his wife (Thembisa Zulu) to open the gate. Mofokeng and Matsobane then ambushed Zulu and fatally wounded him before fleeing the scene.
According to Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga, a thorough investigation led to the arrest of the hitmen on September 2, 2016, and the evidential information further led to the arrest of the wife on September 19, 2016.
The accused were later released on R5000 bail each. Mofokeng was found guilty of murder, and unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.
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He was sentenced to life imprisonment, as well as five years for unlawful possession of a firearm and another three years for unlawful possession of ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently.
Matsobane and Zulu were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit a crime. They were both sentenced to prison for life.
The provincial head of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Zodwa Mokoena, commended the investigating officer on his endurance to ensure that the accused faced the full might of the law.
“The release of the accused on bail did not deter the investigating officer in his goal of a successful prosecution and I also applaud the judiciary on such a decisive judgement,” she said.
