A former South African police officer, 42-year-old Lukhanyo Mnembe, was sentenced to 25 years in jail for the murder in the High Court of South Africa: North West Division on Thursday, 19 January 2023.
FORMER COP SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN JAIL FOR MURDER
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA): North West division, found that Mnembe murdered Thamsanqa Phoofolo in April 2019.
The former police officer was also sentenced to 10 years in jail on each of the two counts of pointing a firearm, and it will run concurently with his murder sentence.
Mnembe’s conviction emanates from an incident on 4 April 2019 in Ikageng near Potchefstroom wheen thieves broke into his tavern and stole his property, Henry Mamothame, NPA Regional Spokesperson, said in a statement.
Evidence led in court revealed that Mnembe received a tip-off from an unknown source that Phoofolo was one the people who broke into his tavern.
COURT SAYS HE TOOK THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS
“On the night of 5 April 2019, he went to the deceased’s home carrying a gun and an axe and ordered him to come out of his shack. Following the deceased’s refusal to come out, the accused broke in and started assaulting him.”
Henry Mamothame
Phoofolo’s mother sister and her two-month-old baby were inside the house at the time of the incident, says Mamothame.
He said when they wanted to intervene, the accused threatened them by pointing a firearm at them.
“Further evidence revealed that the accused fired one gunshot in the shack and the deceased escaped into the house, and Mnembe followed him. The deceased pleaded with Mnembe not to shoot him in front of the baby, but the plea fell on deaf ears as he fired two more shots that killed Phoofolo on the scene.”
Henry Mamothame
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Advocate Benny Kalakgosi argued that Mnembe was a police officer who failed to report the matter to the police, and instead he took the law into his own hands.
He argued that the family still suffers from the trauma of Mnembe pointing them with a firearm, and witnessing the murder of their loved one.
Judge Eulenda Mahlangu said Mnembe, as a former police officer, should have known that vigilantism is a scourge that law enforcement is always encouraging members of society not to practice.
Director of Public Prosecutions Dr Rachel Makhari- Sekhaolelo lauded the prosecutor and the investigation team for their hard work.
“We discharge our duties of bringing justice without fear, favour, or prejudice even when perpetrators are within our ranks.”
