2 Cop killers handed double-life sentences plus 63 years

South African Police Service

2 Cop killers handed double-life sentences plus 63 years
2 Cop killers handed double-life sentences plus 63 years

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has welcomed the South Gauteng High Court sentencing on Tuesday of two murder accused who brutally killed and robbed two police officials in Braamfischerville, Soweto in September 2015.

The slain police officials were attached to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit at the time of their untimely death. Whilst driving a police vehicle Warrant Officer Samuel Mchizama (54) and Constable Solly Maluleke (41) were ambushed by eight heavily armed men who had just robbed a local liquor store in Braamfischerville.

Warrant Officer Mchizama was declared dead at the scene and Constable Maluleke succumbed to the gunshot wounds on arrival at the hospital.

The DPCI’s Tactical Operational Management Services (TOMS) and Serious Organised Crime Investigation members swiftly responded on intelligence and successfully intercepted one of the identified getaway vehicles along the N3 near Heidelberg.

Two of the suspects were shot and killed during the resultant shootout with authorities. Two R5 rifles and ammunition were recovered from the suspects’ vehicle.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Mxolisi Mazibuko (30) in Meadowlands. A week later, the investigation team arrested Simphiwe Mswane (27), Sthembiso Vincent Khumalo (31), and Mzwakhe Thabethe (34) after a suspicious vehicle was spotted in Fordsburg, Johannesburg.

A rifle that was positively linked to the robbery and murder was recovered. Thabethe and Mswane were later fatally wounded during a shootout with police after they escaped from lawful custody together with Mazibuko who was rearrested.

The remaining pair was found guilty on two counts of murder and sentenced to double-life imprisonment, robbery with aggravating circumstances to 15 years imprisonment, robbery of firearm to 15 years imprisonment, possession of prohibited firearm to 15 years imprisonment, possession of automatic rifle to 15 years imprisonment, and possession of ammunition to 3 years.

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