The management of the South African Police Service has welcomed the sentence imposed on two men accused of committing a house robbery and other crimes in Kameeldrift, north east of Pretoria.
On 18 September 2019, the High Court in Pretoria sentenced Dolphy Sambok (45) and Karabo Semake (27) to life imprisonment and a combined 68 years in prison for, among others, murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
On the fateful day of 26 June 2016, Dolphy and Karabo together with the third accused Andrew “Steve” Thabo (48), who died in prison early in 2018, broke into the house of a couple both aged 51 where they committed armed robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The couple were subjected to serious bodily injuries before being shot and left for dead when the accused fled the scene with their personal belongings.
The wife unfortunately succumbed to her injuries while the husband was taken to hospital for medical attention.
The case was registered and allocated to a National Detectives Organised Crime investigator who used his expertise to follow all the leads as the accused were not known at that stage. The detective eventually made a breakthrough when he traced one of the suspects to Brits in North West, together with the SAPS Brits detectives.
Sambok was eventually arrested on 4 April 2017 and found with the firearms that was used to shoot at the Kameeldrift couple. The following day Semake was also arrested in the Rustenburg area while Thabo was traced and found in prison.
During the trial, the investigator managed to successfully oppose bail against the duo on several occasions. The investigating officer fostered a good working relationship with the surviving victim to an extent that he ensured that he accompanied the victim to every court appearance. The widowed victim had only praise for the investigating officer when he thanked him for a job well done and for finally bringing him closure with the conviction and subsequent sentencing.
This lengthy sentence is expected to serve as a deterrent and reaffirmation of the commitment of the criminal justice system in curbing violent crimes perpetrated against rural communities.
With the reviewed Rural Safety Strategy expected to be fully implemented in due course, the SAPS and all role players intend to continue with the integrated and multidisciplinary approach which includes the mobilisation
of the rural communities in creating a safe and secure environment, conducive for food security, the reduction of serious and violent crime and the prevention of stock theft, as well as social and economic stability.
We continue to appeal to anyone who has any information on crime to please contact the SAPS Crime Stop number 086 00 10111. Callers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with strictest confidence.
Read about more farm attacks here
South Africa Today – South Africa News
