2 life terms plus 90 years for taxi-related killing

The Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday sentenced two convicted killers to life behind bars plus 90 years for the attempted murder of a Nongoma taxi boss and the murder of his wife.

Zakhele Bhobho Nkosi (35) and Simphokuhle Ayanda Mathe (30) also went down for robbery with aggravating circumstances and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

The court heard that on 13 March 2021, Nkosi and Mathe stormed the taxi owner’s home in Emakholweni, Nongoma.

The taxi owner, who was also a member of the local taxi association, had gone out the back door to use the outside toilet.

The two men ransacked the house, robbed his wife of an undisclosed amount of money, and shot her twice in the head before fleeing the scene of the crime.

On 17 December 2021, the same taxi owner survived being shot in a hail of bullets while he was entering his home.

The case was allocated to the Provincial Taxi Violence unit, and a thorough investigation led to the arrest of Nkosi in Ulundi.

He was found in possession of a firearm and 15 rounds of ammunition. The serial number of the firearm was filed off; however, ballistic analysis revealed that the firearm was robbed from a police officer.

The officer, a sergeant in the Ulundi Public Order Police unit, was robbed at the side of the R66 in Ulundi by suspects travelling in a minibus taxi.

He was awaiting assistance after his private vehicle had broken down while travelling home from work.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Mathe, who was also found in possession of a firearm with the serial number erased. He was positively linked to both the murder and attempted murder at Emakholweni.

Police detectives presented a solid case and successfully opposed the accused’s several bail applications.

Nkosi was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 20 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 20 years for robbery of a police officer with aggravating circumstances, 15 years for unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm, and five years for unlawful possession of ammunition.

Mathe was sentenced to life for murder, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and 15 years for the attempted murder of the taxi owner.

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