Police general pleased with severe murder sentences

NELSPRUIT – Two criminals felt the might of the law clamp down on them when they received a 50-year life sentence for murder, kidnapping and robbery last week.

Vusi Ngwenya (32) and Gerald Dima (32) appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where both were found guilty of murder for which they received a 20-year sentence, robbery (five years), kidnapping (12), attempted murder (five), possession of illegal firearms (five) and illegal ammunition (three) each. The sentences that added up to 50 years would run concurrently, ensuring both men would serve a minimum of

25 each behind bars.

According to Mpumalanga police spokesman Col Leonard Hlathi, the crime occurred on March 2, when the two accused hijacked a man in his double-cab Isuzu while he was offloading groceries at his home in KaNyamazane. He said the men sped off with the victim and then dropped him off in Pienaar.

According to Hlathi, they then drove to Ngwenyeni Trust in Tonga, where they picked up two other suspects.

“The Tonga police were alerted about the incident. They immediately reacted and found the vehicle that was on its way to Mozambique.”

He said a shoot-out occurred between police and the suspects when one of them

Mr Ntimane Sergio (29), a Mozambican citizen, was fatally wounded from a gunshot.

He said another suspect, who the police believe to also be a Mozambican, has not been arrested yet. “We believe he fled to Mozambique.”

Hlathi explained that although the men did not shoot anyone themselves, they received the murder charge as they had intentionally committed the crimes knowing that it could cost the lives of individuals.

Mpumalanga provincial chief commissioner

Gen Thulani Ntobela said he was pleased with the sentence as it would act as a deterrent to other potential criminals. “Crime does not pay.”