IPID SENIOR INVESTIGATOR KILLER SENTENCED
The Pretoria High Court sentenced Khumbulani Johannes Sithole (35) from Katlehong to a life term and 30 years direct imprisonment for killing an Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Senior Investigator Samson Mandlakayise Mahlangu. This is after he was convicted of murder, house breaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances, house breaking with intent to steal and theft as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
During the early hours of 10 March 2020 Sithole, accompanied by others, entered the plot of the deceased which had a lodge with cottages and a conference facility. While the deceased was sleeping in his home also situated on the premises he heard a noise. When he went to check, Sithole shot him through the window and proceeded to rob him of his 9mm Glock 17 pistol, car, cellphones and house appliances as well as food.
On 26 March 2020 Sithole was arrested on another matter. After he was interviewed by police on that matter, he made a confession about killing the deceased and being paid
R50 000 for the job. The confession was followed by a pointing out of the scene. However, in court he pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the state had overwhelming evidence against him.
In the victim impact statement handed in, the wife of the deceased told the court that she has since been suffering from anxiety attacks and depression since the incident. Moreover, she told the court that she worries most about her son who lost his father when he was only 2 years old. In aggravation of sentence, the prosecutor, Advocate Juliet Makgwatha said Sithole was a member of a criminal enterprise that planned to kill the deceased and that he was robbed of his life in a callous manner. She further reminded the court that Sithole had a previous conviction of 2 counts of murder, 2 counts of attempted murder, possession of prohibited firearm as well as unlawful possession of ammunition in August 2022.
In his sentence the Judge agreed with the state that Sithole was motivated by greed. He killed a law enforcement officer in cold blood. Therefore he found no compelling and substantial circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Sibongile Mzinyathi, welcomes the sentence.
