By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The High Court of South Africa: North West Division has sentenced Lukhanyo Mnembe (42) to 25 years for the murder of Thamsanqa Phoofolo (30) and 10 years on each of the two counts of pointing a firearm.
The court ordered for the sentence to run concurrently and Mnembe was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
According to Henry Mamothame
NPA Regional Spokesperson, Mnembe’s conviction emanates from an incident that took place on the night of 04 April 2019 at Ikageng near Potchefstroom, wherein a tavern that he and his wife owned and valuable items were stolen.
Mamothame said the Evidence led in court revealed that following the break-in, Mnembe received a tip-off from an unknown source that the deceased was one of the people that broke into his tavern.
“On the night of 05 April 2019 he went to the home of the deceased carrying a gun and an axe and ordered him to come out of his shack.
“Following the deceased’s refusal to come out, the accused broke in and started assaulting him. The deceased’s mother, brother and his sister’s two-months-old baby were inside the house and upon hearing the commotion from outside, they went to intervene, but the accused threatened them by pointing a firearm.
“Further evidence revealed that the accused fired one gunshot in the shack and the deceased escaped into the house and Mnembe followed him,” said Mamothame.
Mamothame said the deceased pleaded with Mnembe not to shoot him in front of the baby, but the plea fell on deaf ears as he fired two more shots that killed Phoofolo on the scene.
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Adv Benny Kalakgosi argued that the accused person was a police officer who failed to report the matter to the police instead of taking the law unto himself.
He further argued that the family is still suffering from the trauma of being pointed at with a firearm and to also experience their loved one murdered in their presence.
Judge Eulenda Mahlangu agreed with the state and further indicated that the accused should have known as a law enforcer that vigilantism is a scourge that law enforcement is always encouraging members of society not to practice.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari- Sekhaolelo lauded the prosecutor and the investigation team from the SAPS for their hard work.
“We discharge our duties of bringing justice without fear, favour or prejudice, even when perpetrators are within our ranks,” she remarked.