THREE men were sentenced to a total of 285 years in jail last week for the murder of an Eastern Cape policeman in 2010.
Butterworth police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said Prince Mayongo, 26, Alfred Moleleki Madela, 36, and Siyabulela Mjali, 31, were convicted by the Mthatha High Court on Thursday for the murder of Constable Vuyisanani Khethabahle.
Khethabahle, 27, was killed in a shootout between police and four armed men.
“It is alleged four men armed with pistols robbed a Dutywa garage of an undisclosed amount of money on August 27 in 2010.
“The incident was reported to the Dutywa police station and a patrol van spotted the suspects in a sedan which sped off in the direction of Butterworth,” he said.
The suspects then turned towards Mgcwe village in Ngqamakhwe with the police in hot pursuit. However, the suspects’ car had a problem and they jumped out and started shooting at the police.
“In the process Constable Khethabahle was killed,” the spokesman said.
Police shot and killed one suspect, 26-year-old Tukelo Mokoena from Lesotho.
He was found in possession of an unlicensed pistol with several rounds of ammunition.
The three remaining suspects managed to flee in the police van and were captured in Sihlabeni village in Ngqamakhwe.
Manatha said Mayongo and Madela, who are from Gauteng, were found guilty on 14 counts and were both sentenced to 96 years in prison. Mjali was found guilty on 13 counts and sentenced to 93 years behind bars.
Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta welcomed the stiff sentences. —
Cop killers jailed for 300 years
Butterworth police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said Prince Mayongo, 26, Alfred Moleleki Madela, 36, and Siyabulela Mjali, 31, were convicted by the Mthatha High Court on Thursday for the murder of Constable Vuyisanani Khethabahle.
Khethabahle, 27, was killed in a shootout between police and four armed men.
“It is alleged four men armed with pistols robbed a Dutywa garage of an undisclosed amount of money on August 27 in 2010.
“The incident was reported to the Dutywa police station and a patrol van spotted the suspects in a sedan which sped off in the direction of Butterworth,” he said.
The suspects then turned towards Mgcwe village in Ngqamakhwe with the police in hot pursuit. However, the suspects’ car had a problem and they jumped out and started shooting at the police.
“In the process Constable Khethabahle was killed,” the spokesman said.
Police shot and killed one suspect, 26-year-old Tukelo Mokoena from Lesotho.
He was found in possession of an unlicensed pistol with several rounds of ammunition.
The three remaining suspects managed to flee in the police van and were captured in Sihlabeni village in Ngqamakhwe.
Manatha said Mayongo and Madela, who are from Gauteng, were found guilty on 14 counts and were both sentenced to 96 years in prison. Mjali was found guilty on 13 counts and sentenced to 93 years behind bars.
Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta welcomed the stiff sentences. —
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