Four murderers sentenced to life for killing Cape Town law enforcement officers

Four murderers will each serve two life terms behind bars after hearing their fate at the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday. 

The four - Ndumiso Lutshetu,18, Ashwin Kennedy, 22, Bongani Mvamveki, 36 and Malibongwe Witbooi, 35, were recently convicted for the double murders of the law enforcement officers who were deployed at Sweet Home in Samora Machel, Cape Town, on September 4, 2019. 

Slain officers Jan Niewenhuys and Simthembile Nyangiwe were on duty in a marked vehicle when they were killed in a hail of bullets in broad daylight, and during the brazen attack, had their firearms stolen. The pair was killed after being shot at 21 times.

Police spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana said the sentence was welcomed by the provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile. 

Patekile said this verdict served as a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice and underscores their commitment to protecting those who dedicate their lives to safeguarding communities.

High court Judge Daniel Thulare’s conviction of the four detailed how the accused pleaded not guilty to the murder charges proffered against them.

They were, however, all convicted on all six criminal charges, which included two murder charges, two robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of firearms, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The two officers, who were in one vehicle, had just returned from their lunch break when their colleagues in a separate vehicle heard the gunshots ring out.

According to court details, the accused were all apprehended within two hours of the shooting after a senior cop attached to the Crime Prevention Unit at Samora Machel received reliable information from a reliable, unregistered informant of where the accused could be found.

Having received the information, and briefing police and a team of soldiers who were supporting police in the area, the 28-man strong multidisciplinary team swooped on a shack where the accused were and were found in possession of the firearms of the slain law enforcement officers.

At conviction, Judge Thulare denied the submission by the accused that they were not searched inside the shack where they were caught by surprise by police and soldiers, and found in possession of the officers’ firearms. 

“Police are well-trained to deal with life-threatening situations. The police who attended to the shack, approached the shack well informed that the occupants thereof were armed and were allegedly involved in the shooting of law enforcement officers and had robbed those officers of their firearms… It is highly improbable that they would not have searched the accused. 

“The version of the accused changed as it suited them… The version of the accused which implied a false conspiracy by the police to falsely implicate them is not only highly improbable but was also beyond reasonable doubt false,” said Judge Thulare. 

Meanwhile, in a separate matter, police confirmed that two City of Cape Town law enforcement officers are facing serious criminal charges following an incident that occurred last week.

The two officers are expected to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court on Thursday on charges of kidnapping and extortion.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the officers, aged 36 and 41, allegedly approached a man at a supermarket in iLitha Park, Khayelitsha, and requested his asylum documentation. 

When the individual was unable to produce the documents, the officers allegedly instructed him to accompany them and later demanded a ransom for his release. The victim’s brother managed to gather an undisclosed amount of cash, which he handed over to the officers, leading to the victim’s release, said Twigg. 

Cape Argus