The Cape Town High Court has sentenced three men to lengthy prison terms for the Gugulethu murders of an unarmed off-duty police officer and a state witness. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the crimes began with a R20 000 offer to steal a bakkie.
The court convicted Luzuko Yalezo, 40, 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.
He received an effective 28 years’ direct imprisonment. The court imposed a cumulative sentence of 111 years but ordered portions to run concurrently. It also declared Yalezo unfit to possess a firearm.
The court convicted his co-accused Mzukisi Ntetha, 34, and Athenkosi Kolanisi, 32, on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Ntetha received 25 years for murder and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, with the sentences running concurrently giving him an effective 25 years behind bars. Kolanisi received 20 years for murder and 15 years for robbery, also running concurrently. The court declared both unfit to possess firearms.
The case started with a bakkie
According to plea and sentencing agreements entered into with the state, Yalezo detailed the events as follows:
In August 2021, Siphelele Botya contacted Yalezo and offered him R20 000 for a stolen or hijacked bakkie. On 12 August 2021, the three drove around Gugulethu searching for a suitable vehicle. They spotted one in NY5 and decided to hijack it in Gawulethetha Street, KTC, Gugulethu. Off-duty Wynberg police officer Sakhumzi Mbucela was sitting inside.
Yalezo and Kolanisi approached from the driver’s side and ordered Mbucela to get out. A lamp pole blocked the door. Ntetha entered from the passenger side and also ordered him to exit. He then stabbed Mbucela in the chest, believing he was resisting. The men dragged him from the vehicle and drove off.
Botya instructed them to abandon the vehicle near the railway line in Samora Machel. Before leaving, they stole cash, bank cards, two cellphones, police handcuffs and sunglasses. They locked the vehicle and dropped the keys at an agreed location. Botya later told Yalezo that police were examining the vehicle and asked him to find another one.
State witness hunted down
Yalezo told the court he then learned that Sibongiseni Yanta was a state witness in the Mbucela murder and robbery case. Yanta had allegedly provided police with information about their activities and whereabouts. Yalezo said the group decided to kill him.
On 8 September 2021, Yalezo said he and three others tracked Yanta to a shack in Gugulethu.
They confronted him at gunpoint. Yanta denied being a police informer.
They released him. Weeks later, on 23 November 2021, Yalezo said he received a tip that Yanta was at a house in Nyanga. He and four others went there, dragged Yanta outside and forced him into a vehicle. They drove to a secluded area near the railway line in Browns Farm. When Yanta tried to flee, one of the kidnappers shot and killed him.
Prosecution and investigation
Senior State Advocate Meagen September-Qatana led the successful prosecution. The NPA said she directed investigations across the Western and Eastern Cape, consulting witnesses in Mount Fletcher, Aliwal North, Gqeberha, Ngcobo, Mthatha and Kokstad.
Investigating officer Warrant Officer Hlatshanene of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the the Hawks, conducted late-night investigative work, the NPA said. He coordinated with colleagues in rural areas and consulted traditional leaders in the Khethekhethe location near Mount Fletcher to trace witnesses.
Overwhelmed by the evidence against them, the three accused entered plea and sentencing agreements with the state. They admitted to their crimes and detailed the roles each played.
During sentencing, September-Qatana argued that Mbucela’s murder had “devastating consequences for his family, community, and the administration of justice.” She said he was “defenceless and innocently carrying out his parental responsibilities at the time of the attack.”
The hijacking took place in broad daylight in a busy residential area, she said, showing the accused’s complete disregard for human life and community safety.
‘Justice for victims and their families’
Acting Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Adrian Mopp commended both September-Qatana and Hlatshanene for their commitment to the case.
“The accused will spend lengthy periods behind bars and we hope their families will find solace in knowing that justice has been served,” he said.
Mopp said the sentences delivered justice not only for Mbucela’s wife, children and extended family, but also for his colleagues in the police service and the family of Yanta.
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