ON Wednesday, April 5, the Durban High Court convicted and sentenced Ntuthuko Mabaso (29) to life imprisonment for the murder of Constable Sphelele Cele who was fatally shot in the line of duty.

According to the Hawks KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson, Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo, on January 24, Constable Sphelele Cele, who was stationed at Durban Flying Squad, was performing patrol duties near Musgrave in Durban when the incident occurred.

“When Cele stopped a suspicious vehicle, Mabaso fired shots towards him and fled the scene, leaving an Uber driver behind. Constable Cele was declared dead at the scene,” said Mhlongo.

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Mhlongo said a case of murder was reported at Berea police station, and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks members from Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation.

“Members received information that Mabaso was about to board a bus from Pietermaritzburg to Johannesburg. They proceeded to the bus station where Mabaso was arrested, and he was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. During investigation, it was established that the firearm was robbed from a policeman at Umlazi in 2019,” said Mhlongo.

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The Hawks spokesperson says Mabaso appeared in court several times until he was sentenced on Wednesday.

“Mabaso was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for armed robbery, 15 years imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm, life imprisonment for police murder, 5 years imprisonment for attempted murder and 5 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. His sentences will run concurrently,” said Mhlongo.

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