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Convicts who deserve to rot in jail

LAST week the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development published a list of 149 convicted criminals who have applied and were recommended for a presidential pardon by the so-called Reference Group.

Accompanying the list was an invitation calling on the "victims of the offences committed by the applicants" and "any parties with direct or substantial interest in the applications" to make written representations on whether any of these criminals should be granted a pardon.

As a Mzansi citizen Guluva believes he has a civic duty to have his two cents' worth on this burning issue.

Contrary to earlier speculation, fraudster Schabir Shaik and apartheid murderer Eugène de Kock, Prime Evil himself, are not among the applicants.

What caught Guluva's darting eye as he was going through the list, though, were the names of four hardened criminals applying for pardons:

  • Thulani Innocent Zwane - who was convicted of murder, attempted murder, culpable homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and housebreaking and theft;
  • Mbukeni Innocent Zakusa - who found himself behind bars as a result of the 10 counts of murder he committed and two he attempted to commit;
  • Mthokozi Innocent Ntuli - jailed after committing three counts of murder and three of attempted murder: and
  • Nhlanhla Innocent Mhlongo - who was locked up for two counts of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

You can argue with these guys until the cows come home, they will always insist they are innocent, no matter the gravity of the offences they have committed.

The same seemingly goes for one Thamsanqa Obedient Memela, who was convicted in Impendle in 1995 of kidnapping and murder. He will probably tell you he is as obedient as they come and that he is in jail because it was the devil who made him commit the crimes.

As for Nhlanhla Freeman Hlengwa - who is serving a lengthy sentence in connection with three counts of murder and three of attempted murder - he has hopefully learnt by now that you can't be a free man in jail.

Mzoxolo Wiseman Nkosana now knows that what he did - killing two people, committing robbery and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition - was not a wise thing at all.

Whether applying for a pardon is a wise move will be determined by the president after he had studied all the submissions from the victims and other interested parties.

Petros Justice Khumalo - who has been sitting in jail in Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, in connection with four counts of murder, four of attempted murder and four of arson since 1998 - seems to believe in his own mind that justice has been served and that he now needs to go home.

Guluva believes that Sipho Lewlight Mtolo is in fact a lowlife who deserved what he got for murdering eight people and attempting to murder six others in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal, in the early 1990s. No pardon for him, thank you!

Though Richard Thapelo Mofokeng, who was convicted for an assortment of crimes in 1994, has submitted his application for a pardon, he seemingly does not fancy his chances of being released. He has, as his Sesotho name suggests, put his faith in prayer.

Guluva's final word on the matter is: it does not matter how innocent or obedient you claim to be, you are all heartless and ruthless criminals who deserve to rot in jail.

Email Guluva on: thatha.guluva@gmail.com.

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