The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, welcomes a five year direct imprisonment meted to a 29-year old extortionist, Sabelo Kubheka.
The sentencing was imposed by Witbank Regional Court on Thursday, November 15, after founding the accused guilty of extortion.
Kubheka was sentenced following an investigation which was conducted by the police regarding two children who were kidnapped from their home in Vosman near Witbank.
The children, Gabisile Shabane aged 13, and her 15 month old nephew, Nkosikhona Ngwenya, were abducted by three men who broke into their home on January 28 this year.
During the time when the investigation was in its early stage with no clue who abducted the children, Kubheka featured himself in the midst of the investigation by claiming that he knew about the whereabouts of the children, eventually called the family and demanded a ransom under the guise that he will help them find the victims.
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The matter was brought to the attention of the investigating team of the case who immediately instituted a probe. It was during the probe when a search for him was launched, traced and arrested at Vosloorus in Gauteng, on February 7. Kubheka has since been kept in custody since his arrest.
The four suspects who are linked with the kidnapping and the murder of the children, Thokozani Msibi aged 32, Thulani Thobela aged 26, Donie Cavin Boshielo aged 22 and Mthobisi Brilliant Mkhize aged 26, are expected to stand trial at the Circuit of the Pretoria High Court sitting in Delmas from August 19.
General Zuma has warned the public not to attempt to take a queue from what Kubheka has done. He mentioned that the incident, at which the two children were senselessly and brutally murdered, was not a joke to make fun of the family.
General Zuma indicated that the public should understand that if someone is crying or in pain, that person needs comfort but not to aggravate the pain.
“The sentencing of Kubheka will serve as a deterrent to other would be extortionists”, said General Zuma.
