Cape Town - The Mthatha High Court in the Eastern Cape has sentenced Mandisi Makhanda to three life terms for killing three members of one family in 2018 while he was escaped from prison.
The 37-year-old had walked into a spaza shop in Ngqeleni on October 4, 2018, and pulled out a firearm before telling the customers inside to keep quiet and lie down.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Makhanda then approached the cashier and demanded cash.
“The victim, Novangeli Nomqonde, complied but pleaded with him not to take a cellphone that did not belong to her.
“Makhanda said she was cheeky and shot her dead.
“When her husband, Fezile Nomqonde, tried to intervene, he also shot him together with his nephew Zalisile Nomqonde,” Tyali said.
He said the incident followed after Makhanda escaped from custody at Rooigrond Correctional Centre in the North West province, where he was serving a life sentence for murder.
During his escape, he stole a firearm belonging to a Correctional Services officer, Tyali said.
“Makhanda was arrested at Circus Triangle Mall, in Mthatha, in November 2018, still carrying the murder weapon.
“A customer who was present during the commission of the offence, tipped the police off when he came across Makhanda, in Libode town, a few days after the incident.
“During the trial, he pleaded not guilty, and disputed ever setting foot at the Nomqonde spaza shop.
“But under cross-examination he could not tell where he was on that day, nor explain how a firearm stolen during his escape from North West province was found in his possession and positively linked to the murders,” Tyali said.
Judge Mbulelo Stanford Jolwana sentenced Makhanda to a cumulative 15-year sentence behind bars for robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms with intent to commit an offence, and possession of firearms and ammunition.
“The worst and most disturbing aspect of this case which was also a very serious aggravating factor, is that the accused had escaped from Rooigrond Correctional Centre where he was serving a life sentence for a murder he was sentenced for in September 2013.
“He was also serving a 12-year sentence for attempted murder and a six-year sentence for kidnapping when he escaped five years into his sentence.
“He escaped from prison and went on to commit aggravated robbery and three murders with a firearm that he dispossessed from a Correctional Services officer on duty in less than five months after he escaped,” Judge Jolwana’s judgment read.
“When the said firearm was dispossessed from the said officer at Rooigrond Correctional Centre he was also shot and wounded when the accused and four others escaped.
“This in my view, makes the accused to rank among the most dangerous criminals who should be completely removed from society and remain in custody until the end of his natural life,“ cited Judge Jolwana.
Cape Times