Nkosinathi duo slapped with four life sentences
The men were charged with five counts of murder, 14 of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three of attempted murder and three of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The 2016 reign of terror in Zandspruit came to an end when two criminals, Nkosinathi Ngwenya (better-known as Mazinyo) and Nkosinathi Andile Moyo were slapped with hefty sentences for the crimes they were linked to in the Honeydew policing precinct.
The duo was sentenced to four life imprisonment terms and an additional 163 years by the Johannesburg High Court on 12 December.
The men were charged with five counts of murder, 14 of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three of attempted murder and three of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
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According to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP South Gauteng), Hurbetin Phindi Mjonondwane, the court heard that Ngwenya, Nkomo and their accomplices (who are still at large) terrorised the community of Zandspruit during the year 2016 when they targeted taverns operating in the area. They threatened patrons with firearms, forcing them to lie down while they searched them for money and other belongings like cellphones before proceeding to the owner of the tavern, where they would demand all the financial proceeds of the day’s business.
This continued until Ngwenya was arrested after a shootout with police during a robbery in Alberton. Ngwenya was then linked to the Zandspruit crimes by victims who were called to attend an identification parade.
Nkomo was arrested after police received a tip-off about men planning a robbery. Upon arrival on scene, the police found them armed with firearms that were linked to the crime scenes in Zandspruit. The victims of all those dockets attended the identity parade and fingered Nkomo as one of the community terrorisers.
State Advocate Solomon Sinthumule led evidence from 70 witnesses, among them seven forensic pathologists who performed post mortems on the bodies of the deceased and gave evidence about the state and nature of the wounds found on the bodies. Thirteen police officials who attended the crime scenes and collected evidentiary materials also gave testimony about the roles they played in collecting evidence for the State.
Director of Public Prosecutions in the Gauteng Local Division, Advocate Andrew Chauke, said that the courts continue to play a pivotal role in promoting the protection of citizens by removing criminals from society so that society can live free from fear and harm, and expressed the National Prosecuting Authority’s gratitude for the various testimonies from victims that secured this successful prosecution.
Honeydew Police spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan, also thanked the community and urged them to continue providing information about crimes committed in their area. “In the meantime, police will continue with disruptive operations with the aim of thwarting attempts by criminals to make communities live in a state of constant fear. The safety and security of the community remains a number one priority for the police in the province,” he said.
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