High court sentences famous actor’s killers to life imprisonment
“You failed to show remorse.”
Five men, who were found guilty of murdering well-known actor and sportsman Dumisani Masilela, were sentenced to life in prison by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Bongani John Masombuka (37), Sfundo Harrison Nkosi (33), Khumbudzo Solomon Mukhuba (31), Brian Makhubedu(27), and Mashudu Malema (34) were all sentenced to life imprisonment for Masilela’s murder by judge Mokhine Papi Mosopa.
Former Tuks player and Rhythm City actor Masilela was shot on August 2, 2017, during an attempted hijacking by the five men in Tembisa.
Before handing down his sentence, Mosopa said he had no reason to give a lenient sentence to the accused.
He said although only one of them pulled the trigger that killed Masilela “cutting short a promising life, if it was not for the role of individual accused the murder could have not occurred meaning that they are equally liable.”
“You failed to show remorse,” Mosopa said.
One of the men, Mukhuba who was identified by an eye-witness and accomplice as the murderer, claimed he was innocent.
Mosopa said all of them were family men and had means of income and acted out of greed when hijacking and murdering Masilela.
“I see no reason for me to deviate from the minimum sentence.”
Mosopa said the men had no respect for human life given the way they murdered Masilela and treated other victims, one of whom they robbed and left stranded in a veld on a blisteringly cold night for 24 hours.
Mosopa said Masilela’s murder left the family destitute.
His aunt died after hearing the news while his mother was emotionally affected, having also lost her husband only a year before her son’s death.
Masilela was killed only two months after marrying, leaving behind a young widow, actress Simphiwe Ngema.
This is how Masopa sentenced the killers:
Masombuka – robbery (two years in prison), robbery with aggravating circumstances (15 years imprisonment), kidnapping (two years in prison), attempted robbery (10 years in prison), murder (life imprisonment), theft (one-year imprisonment), robbery (15 years) and kidnapping (two years).
Nkosi – robbery with aggravating circumstances (15 years), kidnapping (two years), attempted robbery (five years), murder (life imprisonment), theft (one year), count 10 (15 years), count 11 (two years).
Mukhuba – count two (three years), count three (15 years), count four (two years), count five (five years), count six (life imprisonment), count seven (three years), possession of ammunition (one year) and theft (one year).
Makhubedu – robbery with aggravating circumstances (15 years), kidnapping (two years), attempted robbery (five years), murder (life imprisonment), theft (one year), robbery (15 years) and kidnapping (two years).
Mashudu – robbery with aggravating circumstances (15 years imprisonment), kidnapping (two years), attempted robbery (five years), murder (life imprisonment) and theft (one-year imprisonment).
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