Thohoyandou taxi killings: Limpopo High Court sentences hitman to two life terms
The accused Mzila Mchazeni Simakahle (32) told the court he was hired to kill both men because they held executive positions in a long-distance taxi association.
LIMPOPO – A hitman has been sentenced to two life imprisonment terms in the Limpopo High Court, Thohoyandou division.
Mzila Mchazeni Simakahle (32) of Nkandla village, was convicted of and sentenced for the murder of two taxi owners in the Thohoyandou area. Ndivhudza William Nethononda (65) was shot and killed at his home in Thohoyandou Block F in July 2018 while 49-year-old Nthambeleni Peter Tshishonga was killed in front of the community at a car wash in Manini village in August 2018.
At the time of the murders the Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, the former provincial police commissioner activated the Multi Disciplinary Special Investigating Team to apply the maximum intensive investigations in the cases. A reward of R250 000 was also offered for each separate case.
Mzila was eventually arrested in Protea Glen in Gauteng the same day he shot a deputy taxi association member in Roodeport. He was positively linked to the two incidents in Thohoyandou and subsequently charged.
The Regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuring Authority (NPA), Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the accused pleaded guilty on all four counts.
She stated that in his plea he explained that he was hired by taxi owners to kill people and was thereafter given a monetary reward, money which we used to take care of his partner and their child.
“Mzila further said that he has killed several people and usually he would kill five per assignment… in these incidents, he was hired to kill both deceased because they were holding executive positions in a long-distance taxi association in Venda. He said was promised a monetary reward and a Toyota Quantum minibus.”
Malabi-Dzhangi added that in mitigation, the defence lawyer, Selaelo Roberto Machethe, said that that the accused was lured by taxi owners to commit offences because he was unemployed.
Machetha also argued that the accused takes full responsibility for his actions and was remorseful, she said.
During aggravation, state advocate Nduvheni Mulangaphuma led the evidence of the wives of the deceased, who stated that they are unemployed.
“They told the court that their husbands took care of the family and now they and their children are suffering because there is no income.”
She added that Mulangaphuma further argued that these incidents shocked the communities in Vhembe and that the accused should be sentenced to life imprisonment to deter other potential offenders.
Judge Khami Makhafola remarked that the accused is a young man who makes a living by murdering innocent people out of greed and ‘is in a comfort zone by working with police officials’.
Makhafola further agreed with the state that he is not a candidate for rehabilitation and sentenced Mzila to two life imprisonment terms for two counts of murder. He was sentenced to an additional five years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and two years for unlawful possession of ammunition.
The sentences were ordered to run concurrently with the life sentence he is currently serving for similar offences which were committed in Gauteng in 2018.
The NPA has welcomed the sentence and the Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Ivy Thenga commended the good work of Captain Mutavhatsindi George, from the SAPS Provincial Intervention Unit and advocate Nduvheni Mulangaphuma.
Thega further said the sentence “should be an eye-opener to those who like to kill because of greed”.
“This demonstrates that our justice system is effective and working tirelessly to protect our community and build their confidence in our justice system. Justice has been served to the families of the deceased,” she concluded.
