Staff Reporter
Three men have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms by the Western Cape High Court for the murder of an unarmed off-duty police officer and the later killing of a state witness linked to the case.
Luzuko Yalezo, 40, was sentenced to an effective 28 years’ direct imprisonment after being convicted on two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, pointing of a firearm, kidnapping, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm, and two counts of illegal possession of ammunition.
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Although the court imposed a cumulative sentence of 111 years’ direct imprisonment, it ordered parts of the sentence to run concurrently. Yalezo was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
His co-accused, Mzukisi Ntetha, 34, and Athenkosi Kolanisi, 32, were each convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Ntetha was sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. Kolanisi received 20 years’ direct imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, also to run concurrently.
Both men were also declared unfit to possess firearms.
The NPA said on Monday that the prosecution followed “the sterling work of Senior State Advocate Meagen September-Qatana, who directed investigations across the Western Cape and Eastern Cape,” and the “tireless efforts” of investigating officer Warrant Officer Hlatshanene of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
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“Their work secured overwhelming evidence against the accused and ensured justice for the victims and their families,” the NPA said.
Faced with that evidence, the accused entered into plea and sentencing agreements with the state, admitting to the crimes and detailing their respective roles.
According to the NPA, Yalezo confessed that the crimes began in August 2021 when Siphelele Botya allegedly contacted him to request a stolen or hijacked bakkie and offered R20,000 for it.
On 12 August 2021, the accused drove around Gugulethu looking for a suitable vehicle and spotted a bakkie in NY5, Gugulethu. They decided to hijack it in Gawulethetha Street, KTC, Gugulethu, where off-duty Wynberg police officer Sakhumzi Mbucela was seated inside.
Yalezo and Kolanisi approached the vehicle from the driver’s side and ordered Mbucela to get out, but he could not do so because a lamp pole blocked the door. Ntetha then entered through the passenger side and also ordered him to get out.
During the confrontation, Ntetha stabbed Mbucela in the chest after believing he was resisting. The accused dragged him from the vehicle and drove away.
Yalezo later contacted Botya, who allegedly instructed him to leave the vehicle near the railway line in Samora Machel. Before abandoning it, the accused stole cash, bank cards, two cellphones, police handcuffs and sunglasses found inside.
They locked the vehicle, dropped off the keys at an agreed location and left. Yalezo later alleged that Botya told him police were examining the vehicle and requested another one.
The NPA said Yalezo further admitted that he was told Sibongiseni Yanta was a state witness in the Mbucela murder and robbery case and had allegedly provided police with information about their activities and whereabouts.
“The accused decided Yanta had to be eliminated,” the NPA said.
On 8 September 2021, Yalezo and three others searched for Yanta and found him in a shack in Gugulethu. Yalezo confronted him while pointing a firearm at him, but Yanta denied being a police informer.
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On 23 November 2021, Yalezo claimed he received information that Yanta was at a house in Nyanga. He and four others went there intending to kidnap and confront him.
Armed with a firearm, Yalezo entered the house, dragged Yanta outside, forced him into a vehicle and drove to a secluded area near the railway line in Browns Farm.
There, Yanta tried to flee and was fatally shot by one of the kidnappers.
During sentencing, September-Qatana argued that Mbucela’s murder had “devastating consequences” for his family, community and the administration of justice.
She said Mbucela was defenceless and “innocently carrying out his parental responsibilities” at the time of the attack.
The offence happened in broad daylight in a busy residential area, which the state said showed “the accused’s complete disregard for human life, property, and the safety of the community.”
Acting Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Adrian Mopp commended September-Qatana for travelling extensively across the Eastern Cape to consult witnesses from Mount Fletcher, Aliwal North, Gqeberha, Ngcobo, Mthatha and Kokstad.
He also praised Hlatshanene for late-night investigative work, including coordinating with colleagues in rural areas and consulting traditional leaders in the Khethekhethe location near Mount Fletcher to trace witnesses.
The NPA said Mopp believed the dedication of the prosecution and investigative teams had ensured justice for Mbucela, his wife, children, extended family, police colleagues and Yanta’s family.
He also expressed the hope that the families would find solace in knowing the accused would spend lengthy periods behind bars.
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