Bethal Court sends man to prison for attempted murder

Gift Vusi Sikhosana (34) was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after his conviction by the Bethal Regional Court on February 22.

Sikhosana was on trial for attempted murder of a security officer in February 2021.

He was convicted and sentenced to five years in jail for the attempted murder, another five years for robbery of a firearm, a year in prison for discharging a firearm in public and another year for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Sikhosana was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of section 103 Act 60/2000 of the Firearms Control Act.

According to Sergeant Thomas Mogadime, spokesperson for Bethal Police, Sikhosana, also known as Mberuthi, stabbed a security officer in the head and back with a knife.

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The officer was attending to a complaint near Total Jan Marie in Bethal.

“Sikhosana attacked the security officer and disarmed him. He then threatened to shoot everyone within the vicinity with the gun,” said Mogadime.

A passerby stopped police officers from eMzinoni, who were driving around in town, and informed them about the incident.

“The members responded swiftly to the complaint. On arrival at the scene, they called the Bethal police for backup as the accused had a firearm which he discharged when he noticed them,” said Mogadime.

The police disarmed and apprehended Sikhosana. The firearm was seized and taken in as evidence and was presented at the trial.

Detective Sergeant Andreas Strydom was the investigator in this case.

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