THERE was drama at the Malamulele Magistrate's Court as well-known Limpopo businessman Goddard Mugwena shook hands with two men who had been hired to kill him after they were convicted and sentenced.

Vincent Phakula, 30, and Moses Ntlenana, 25, both of Namakgale in Phalaborwa, were sentenced to six years in prison by magistrate Mike Coetzee for conspiracy to murder, four of which were suspended for five years. This means they will serve an effective two years in prison.

Ntlenana was also convicted of pointing an object that looked like a gun, which turned out to be a toy gun. For this he was sentenced to three years, suspended for five.

Immediately after Coetzee passed the sentence and left the court, Phakula and Ntlenana went to Mugwena and embraced him.

Mugwena reciprocated, to the shock of people in the courtroom.

"We are asking for forgiveness for we know what we did is wrong," said Phakula to Mugwena. He said it was time to change and added he saw himself as a pastor in future.

The conviction and sentencing of the two is a sequel to incidents that happened in 2009 when Mugwena's ex-wife Doris Mthembi, who had eloped with former Muvhango actor Joe Ragwala, allegedly went to Phalaborwa to hire the two men to kill the businessman.

Both Mthembi and Ragwala were co-accused with the two hitmen until their trials were separated.

The case against them is still pending.

The two hired hitmen, who were arrested before they could commit the crime, were invited to the family house used by Mthembi. She lured Mugwena to the house under the pretext of seeking to discuss a reunion. Smelling a rat, Mugwena went to the house accompanied by police who arrested the two hiding behind a cupboard in one of the rooms.

newsdesk@sowetan.co.za

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