Two convicted murderers to spend more than ten years in prison

SCHOEMANSDAL – A man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday after he was found guilty of stabbing another man to death in Middelplaas in April last year.

According to Sgt Nompilo Qwabe of Schoemansdal SAPS, Collen Sipho Nkambule (26) stabbed a man six times after they had a fight in the streets of Middelplaas around 03:00 on April 28.

The man died and Nkambule was arrested. He was found guilty last Wednesday. Magistrate Edgar Moletsane sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment for murder and a year for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in the Tonga Regional Court on Monday.

READ: Local police officers recognised by Police minister

On the same day, Tornado Magagula (36) was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for murder and the unlawful possession of a firearm.

Magagula was found guilty of fatally shooting Johannes Makhaba at a place of entertainment in Mzinti around 04:00 on March 31 last year.

He fled the scene and Makhaba was taken to Tonga Hospital where he was certified dead on arrival.

Magagula was found in Mgobodi nine days later. The investigating officer, Sgt James Khoza put in long hours to ensure justice was served.

Police also had successes at the Lebombo Border Post last weekend, recovering five vehicles during mandatory searches between March 1 and 3.

READ: Tip-off leads police to suspected smugglers and stolen vehicles

Police suspected that the vehicles had been stolen when they discovered that the chassis or engine numbers had been tampered with.

The SAPS vehicle identification unit confirmed it and Vinock Nhlungwane (35), Andaque Adrian (39), Virgilio Savador (30), Osvaldo Rafael Gulele and Simon Shabangu (both 32) were arrested.

They appeared in the Komatipoort Periodical Court last Monday. Four were remanded in custody until their formal bail application. Shabangu was released on bail of R3 000.