The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General, Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the court verdict imposed by the Polokwane High court against 05 male accused on Thursday, 11 April 2024.
According to the report received from Limpopo SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the accused aged between 34 and 48 were arrested in connection with the brutal murder of Collins Chabane Municipality Mayor, Moses Mululeke aged 56 during his untimely death.
On 21 July 2022, five unknown suspects allegedly entered the residence of the deceased with the intention to rob at Xikundu village under Saselamani policing area.
The victim was allegedly attacked while entering the yard and taken inside the house and subsequently fatally shot in company of his 18 year-old son who was also shot but survived and later taken to hospital where he recovered from his injuries.
Afterwards, the suspects took the cellphone of an 18 year-old victim and fled the scene on foot. Following the incident, police established a Team that comprised of Crime Intelligence, Provincial Murder and Robbery, Provincial Tracking Team and Local Criminal Record Center (LCRC) with the objective to trace and apprehend the unknown suspects.
Six (06) suspects were initially arrested in connection with the murder in Vhembe District during July, August and October 2022 period at Thohoyandou and Saselamani precincts respectively as follows:
1. Shumani Nematodzi (48).
2. Avhatakali Mulaudzi (45).
3. Isaac Mudau (39).
4. Wiseman Baloyi (37).
5. Tshianeo Munyai (35).
6. Phundzo Lidzebe (34).
They were never granted bail until the trial commenced during May 2023 but however, accused No 2: Avhatakali Mulaudzi’s charges were ultimately withdrawn and turned state witness in terms of Section 204 of Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and testified against his co-accused on the following charges and counts:
1. Conspiracy to commit murder.
2. Robbery with aggravated circumstances.
3. Murder.
4. Attempted murder.
5. Possession of unlicensed firearms.
6. Possession of unlicensed ammunition.
The five (05) accused were found guilty on all charges and the court found the evidence brought by a 45 year-old, Avhatakali Mulaudzi who turned state witness under Section 204 to be credible against them.
The court has passed the following equal sentences to each of the accused on the following Counts:
*Count 1- 15 years imprisonment.
*Count 2 – 15 years imprisonment (30) years.
*Count 3 – Life imprisonment.
*Count 4 – 10 years imprisonment.
*Count 5 – 5 years imprisonment.
*Count 6 – 5 years imprisonment.
Count 1,2, 4 and 5 will run concurrently and the accused were also declared unfit to possess a firearm and are expected to be incarcerated for a period of more than twenty five (25) years.
“This is an epitome that crime does not pay and perpetrators will be severely punished for their actions. I would like to applaud the Criminal Justice system for ensuring that the accused are removed from society at all costs,” said Lieutenant General , Thembi Hadebe.
