Mine shaft murderers get hefty sentences

Mine shaft murderers get hefty sentences
Mine shaft murderers get hefty sentences

The Circuit of the Pretoria High Court sitting in Middelburg has imposed unsympathetic sentences to four accused during their appearance on 28 Agust 2017, for kidnapping, robbing and killing two men in 2014.

The sentencing of the accused, Thabang Elvis Nthako (36), Samson Bhuti Makuwa (25), George Maswanganyi (27) and Bheki David Mokoena (33), stems from the incident where they hijacked, abducted and murdered two men, Phillip Daniel Monkwe and David Vusi Majola.

They killed the victims by forcing them into an old mine shaft outside Middelburg, after robbing them of their motor vehicles and other belongings.

After the High Court heard about the suspects’ deeds, the judge did not hesitate in imposing the sentences as follows:

Nthako and Makuwa were each sentenced to 10 years jail term on two counts of kidnapping, 24 years for two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and two life terms imprisonment for two counts of murders. All the sentences will run concurrently with one of the life sentences.

Maswanganyi was sentenced to five years jail sentence for one count of kidnapping, 12 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and a life sentence to one murder charge. All his sentences will also run concurrently with the life imprisonment.

Mokoena was only found guilty on two counts of kidnapping where he was granted five years jail term and robbery with aggravating circumstances where he was granted 12 years imprisonment, which will run concurrently.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma is pleased with the sentences handed to the accused. He believes that it will serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders. He also appreciated the hard work by the investigation team, as it helped secure such satisfactory sentences.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service