PORT ELIZABETH - 4 MEN FOUND GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED MURDER OF AN OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER

 Four murder accused were found guilty and sentenced in the Motherwell Regional Court for the attempted murder of an off duty policewoman from SAPS Swartkops on 18 October 2019 in Motherwell.

On the mentioned date at about 18:15 the victim (in her 50’s) was walking home in Cwili Street NU5 in Motherwell after dropping off her cousin Nombuyiselo Ndyambo, 37-year-old (Accused 1) at the taxi rank when she was shot by an unknown person.

On that day Ndyambo brought Songezo Melanie (Accused 3), aged 40 years and Simphiwe Ndwayana (Accused 4), 29-year-old with her and left them in the street while she went inside the house in order to lure the victim outside so that the hitman (Ndwayana) could identify his target.

The Captain sustained two gunshot wounds to her upper body.                       .

The Provincial Organised Crime Investigation (PE) investigated the case of attempted murder. Within the same week, three suspects were arrested while the fourth suspect was arrested a week later in Kwadwesi. Nolufefe Melanie, aged 36 years (Accused 2) was also arrested with her husband for her involvement for conspiring with her husband and arranging the hitman.

On 30 October 2020, the four accused were found guilty and sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy to commit murder, 15 years for attempted murder, 6 years for possession of fire arm and 2 years for possession of ammunition. The 15 year sentence for conspiracy to commit murder will run concurrent with the attempted murder. Effectively they will serve 23 years in prison. The motive for the shooting was to access the inheritance from the policewoman by her cousin Ndyambo.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga lauded the excellent investigative work by the Provincial OCI in Port Elizabeth. ‘Anyone who plans and plots to kill a person has criminal intention and therefore must be punished for their evil and greedy deeds. Our men and women in blue sacrifice their lives every day to protect and serve their communities and it is very disappointing and sad when the very same community turns against them in order to enhance their own selfish objectives,’ added Lt Gen Ntshinga.

via - SAPS