Murder suspect receives two life sentences
After more than three years of perseverance and dedication by police, the case has finally been closed and the perpetrator sentenced to life imprisonment.
On Wednesday, 11 May 2011, a woman’s body was found at the side of the Utrecht road towards Waterval Correctional Centre.
It was established she had been raped and strangled to death.
After more than three years of perseverance and dedication by police, the case has finally been closed and the perpetrator sentenced to life imprisonment.
The long journey to justice began when Utrecht detectives began the murder investigation that led them to Dundee.
Warrant Officer Jabulani Mlangeni and his team arrested two brothers, Bongani Jele and Sizwe Mabaso, with whom the victim had lived.
However, after being remanded in custody in Waterval Correctional Centre, Bongani managed to escape after faking an illness and being admitted to Niemeyer Memorial Hospital in Utrecht. After months on the run, he was apprehended by Umlazi police in Durban. After arranging that Bongani be brought back to Utrecht, W/O Mlangeni discovered that Bongani had yet again escaped. He had again faked illness, was sent to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in eThekwini, where he than managed to escape again.
Instead of being disheartened by the fugitive’s escape, W/O Mlangeni pushed harder and eventually found Bongani at a school in Libode where he was employed at the school as a teacher, using a fraudulent Bachelor of Science Degree to obtain a teaching post.
He also pretended to be a pastor.
On Wednesday, October 22, Madadeni High Court sentenced Bongani to a double life sentence for the rape and murder.
His brother was released, as he could not be linked to the case.
The Utrecht SAPS management commended W/O Mlangeni for his dedication throughout the case.
