ONE of three men responsible for the death of two policemen and a security guard in Harding last April was sentenced to three life sentences for murder, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and 10 years for attempted murder.
Ayanda Hlupheko (30) from Lower Mxafufu in Lusikisiki was sentenced at the Ramsgate High Court last Friday.
His accomplices are still on the run.
Last Friday two witnesses, a manager from the wholesaler and the surviving constable, spoke out about that tragic day.
“I thought it was the end of my life,” said the store manager, adding that the incident had affected him so badly he now takes pills in order to sleep.
I still battle with what happened that night. Since the incident, I wake up between 2am and 3am and make sure that my house is locked. I have to cope and focus on my family.
The surviving constable who was in the vehicle said the incident had affected her both at and away from of work. “If I have to attend crime scenes I wonder what will happen next. I ask not to attend but to be posted at the charge office,” she said.
Her personal life has also been affected she says, and when she hears a loud noise, she starts screaming.
When handing down sentence Judge Shyam Gyanda said Hlupheko and his accomplices had gone with weapons of war. They knew what they were going to do. They knew that security was deployed at the wholesaler and knew that the police station was nearby. It is a terrible case and these types of cases are increasing all the time,” said Judge Gyanda.
Hlupheko was represented by attorney Larry Seethal from Seethal Attorneys. The investigating officer was Detective Warrant Officer Abraham Sonnekus, who will continue working on the case to arrest the two outstanding suspects.
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