Following two years of investigations and trial, two suspects involved in the murder of two Sandringham police officers were sentenced to life imprisonment on 22 March.
The two suspects were caught following an incident on 26 March 2015 when, at 11am, Sandile Nyathikazi and Nhlanhleni Nzama with their accomplice, were noticed by officers Mthokozisi Myeza and Casey Mafokoane after they ignored a traffic signal while driving in a silver BMW on London Road in Alexandra. A car chase ensued and ended with a shootout on the N3 south highway.
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A spokesperson for the Sandringham police, Captain Mohlaume Mamabolo said that during the shootout, a gold Mercedez-Benz stopped behind the police officers and shot at them as well. Myeza was killed at the scene while Mafokoane died from injuries in hospital. Another police officer was also injured and the suspects’ accomplice was killed.
The two suspects stood trial from March 2017 with approximately 40 witnesses testifying. The two were sentenced to two life imprisonments, 20 years for the murder of their accomplice and a further 55 years for attempted murder of another police officer, robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of an unlicenced firearm and ammunition.
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Provincial police commission Lieutenant General Deliwe De Lange welcomed the verdict. De Lange said, “We are appealing to members of the community not to fold their hands and let armed criminals run around victimising innocent citizens of this province. Our dedicated teams of police officers are out every day to put the criminals where they belong; they must all rot in prison. Those who continue to rob the community of service delivery by killing our police officers will be hunted down in order to spend their lives in prison.”
Details: www.saps.gov.za
