ANC member killed and girlfriend raped- killers sentenced.
The murderers of a well-known ANC member who also raped his fiancée while his car broke down have at last been sentenced to prison.
ANC member killed when his car broke down
Gladwin Khaiyane, commonly known as Phaks, a well-known ANC member, was traveling to Johannesburg back in December 2018. According to Lumka Mahanjana, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), his car broke down on the R59 Meyerton.
Phaks and his fiancée had a friend come over to help them fix the car, but five males approached them instead. According to Mahanjana, the assassins ordered them to lie down before shooting them.
“The deceased was shot and died on the scene. The men proceeded to rob the girlfriend, the deceased, and his friend of their belongings.”
Lumka Mahajan
After the robbery, one of the suspects dragged Phak’s girlfriend into nearby bushes where he raped her.
“Amongst other things that were taken is a vehicle, Hyundai H-100,” said Mahajan.
However, the suspects were discovered and taken into custody at their residences a week later.
They have been held in detention ever since and have maintained their innocence.
The dispute was resolved in front of the Pretoria High Court on Thursday while it was sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, nearly four years later.
Three of the five guys, though, were found not guilty.
Both Tau David Mokhali, 33, and Bongani Enock Masilela, 31, received life sentences.
They are accused of murder as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances.
“Masilela was further sentenced to 43 years imprisonment for rape, possession of an unlawful firearm, and possession of ammunition,” Mahanjana said.
The sentence is to run concurrently and the accused persons have been declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Due to South Africa’s rising murder rate, the state had asked for life in jail.
“In her judgment, acting Judge Mokgale agreed with the state and added that the two committed a serious crime. Crimes such as this murders during a robbery are high. The two accused showed no remorse and, therefore, the sentence was appropriate,” Mahanjana said.
