Detective reaps top convictions
The cellphone was found in the possession of a woman. She had brought the cellphone from her cousin, who was one of the accused.
Sterling detective work resulted in the handing down of life sentence to Aubrey Mphili (28) and Sibusiso Sikhahlane (25) recently in the Port Shepstone Regional Court.
The men from Mvutshini Location near Ramsgate were convicted for the murder of Calvin Mandu (34) in Lennon Road in Margate Extension 3 the day after Christmas in 2017.
They remained in custody for three years until their trial date.
The men pleaded not guilty to the crime but the overwhelming evidence and good argument by state prosecutor Elize du Plessis secured life behind bars.
Magistrate Basil King handed the men life imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery. They sentences will run concurrently.
Mphili and Sikhahlane attacked Mandu while he was walking home and fatally stabbed him. The men fled with his cellphone.
A few weeks later, detectives Sergeant Sibisi Zolile, Constable Siphiwosenkosi Hlongwane and the investigating officer Sergeant Michelle van Niekerk worked to together to trace Mandu’s cellphone.
The cellphone was found in the possession of a woman. She had brought the cellphone from her cousin, who was one of the accused.
Both the men were arrested.
A warning statement was taken commissioner officers by Captain Luvuyo Nomaqhiza and Captain Jacque Base.
Sgt van Niekerk has been burning the midnight oil working on many cases.
In a separate case, Thulani Madlala (35) received a five-year suspended sentence for murder and attempted murder in the Port Shepstone Regional Court last month.
During the riots regarding water supply disruptions in 2019, Madlala – an armed security officer – was stopped in the vehicle he was driving near Margate and attacked by the rioters.
In an attempt to stoop the scuffle, Madlala fired a shot which killed a member of the public. He also allegedly accidentally shot his colleague on the ankle.
He pleaded guilty and was granted bail.
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