The Mount Fletcher Regional Court sentenced policeman Busikhaya Zinto (42) to 15 years’ imprisonment for the murder of his acquaintance, Mthibeli Lehana (35), during a night out in Fanta location on 25 November 2019.
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Luxolo Tyali, said both Zinto and Lehana were friends travelling in the same motor vehicle, consuming alcohol, when an argument ensued over one calling the other a boy, “inkwenkwe”, which may be deemed derogatory in their culture.
“While the vehicle was still in motion, Zinto took out a firearm and shot him on the left side of the ribs. Other occupants did not see the actual shooting as they were drunk, and the music was loud; they only heard the sound and smelled the gunpowder. When the driver stopped the vehicle, Zinto got out, leaving his work firearm inside, and disappeared,” said Tyali, adding that those who were in the vehicle rushed the victim to the hospital, but he later succumbed to his gunshot wound.
Tyali added that Zinto was later arrested at his home. During the trial, the state led the evidence of two witnesses who were inside the vehicle when the deceased was shot and that of a police officer who took gunpowder residue from people inside the vehicle.
“He pleaded not guilty, shifting the blame to other occupants in the vehicle. Under cross-examination by regional court prosecutor, Zonke Maranjana, Zinto contradicted himself and changed his version on many occasions to paint a picture that he was not on good terms with one of the witnesses who was in the car at the time. The court dismissed his version as impossible. It also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.”
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Barry Madolo, warned that the prosecution will always ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes are accordingly punished, adding that as a police officer, Zinto should have known better.
“The NPA daily prosecutes hundreds of such matters that affect the safety and well-being of our communities and to ensure justice for victims of crime,” said Madolo.
