Pretoria - The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, has welcomed the Thohoyandou High Court’s double-life sentencing of Zwanga Mbonani Mashawana.
Mashawana was found guilty of the murder of Constable Malesela Stanley Mokonyana and the rape of an 18-year-old in 2015.
His co-accused, Thifhelimbilu Norman Mundalamo (29), was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the same rape, plus 15 years for robbery under aggravated circumstances.
The third suspect, who cannot be named, was acquitted of all charges after he turned State witness.
On Thursday, Mashawana was found guilty of the murder of Constable Mokonyana from the Modimolle Public Order Policing Unit. Mokonyana was deployed in Giyani during the demarcations protests and was off duty when he was killed. He was attacked and stabbed in Thohoyandou in February 2015.
Three days after the incident, the three men were arrested by the Hawks and subsequent linkages found that they were connected to a rape case and other robbery cases in Thohoyandou.
“The Hawks management applaud the SAPS [South African Police Service] and the Limpopo Hawks team for their dedication throughout the investigation, which resulted in the apprehension and successful prosecution of these criminals.
“We also extend our applause to the National Prosecuting Authority for these harsh sentences, which we believe will send a strong warning to would-be police killers,” said Ntlemeza. – SAnews.gov.za
