Former cop jailed for attempted murder

Sipho Mlekeleli was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for attempted murder at the Scottburgh Regional Court last week.

The incident took place at a shebeen in the Ixopo area on April 26, 2019.

Mlekeleli, a Sergeant in the Saps at the time, was with the complainant, Sthembele Tobias Nxele, and several other men playing snooker and consuming alcohol.

Reports indicate that Mlekeleli lost two games in succession, and the other patrons and Nxele began laughing at him. Mlekeleli got angry and left the shebeen.

“Nxele saw him cocking his state-issued firearm, and he shouted to the others that he was about to shoot them,” said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, NPA Regional spokesperson (KZN division).

“They took cover, and Mlekeleli fired about five to eight shots in the direction of the shebeen.”

Two of these shots hit the complainant – one in the abdomen, and one bullet grazed his shoulder.

Nxele was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and discharged the next day.

Mlekeleli then appeared in court on summons.

State Prosecutor Akhile Gcume led Nxele’s evidence as well as the evidence of one of the patrons who was at the shebeen that night. The doctor who tended to Nxele at the hospital also testified in the state’s case, and the testimonies of the police officials who attended the crime scene were also led in court.

The defence then made an application to the court for Mlekeleli’s discharge in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act. However, the state opposed the application, and the court subsequently dismissed it.

Mlekeleli was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter.

“Together with our partners in the justice cluster, we remain committed to our pursuit of justice on behalf of the victims of crime,” added Ramkisson-Kara.

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