In a desperate bid to avoid prison time, former presidential pilot Pule Ramolefi not only lied to a social worker but attempted to buy his way out.
Yesterday (21-04-2015), the Alexandra Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg sentenced Ramolefi to 15 years in prison for murder.
His crime: Stabbing the man who had an affair with his wife.
In April 2013, Ramolefi, 50, and his wife were at a car wash in Midrand when he spotted Sibusiso Buthelezi, the man who had wooed his wife.
Social worker Mosidi Sennelo, who was appointed by the defence to make recommendation for sentencing, compiled a report that painted a picture of a meek Ramolefi who was “greeted by a hot punch in his face” after Buthelezi tapped him on the shoulder.
Acting in self-defence, the pilot pulled out a Swiss pocket knife and stabbed Buthelezi, Sennelo said.
But Magistrate Gideon Scheidler snubbed this version as a lie and said Sennelo was subjective.
Prosecutor Percy Ramushu said that the report sent the message that “murder can be tolerated” and urged the court to issue a sentence that would restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Scheidler agreed and sentenced Ramolefi to 15 years in prison.
“The findings of this court were that [Buthelezi] ran away, his back was bleeding, he fell to the ground and [Ramolefi] stabbed him in the neck,” said Scheidler.
But Ramolefi maintained that he had no intention to kill the then 35-year old chemical engineer and will appeal his conviction and sentence.
The court heard that Ramolefi, who joined the South African Civil Aviation Authority in 2003, has been pilot to “the country's dignitaries… as well as the number one citizen of South Africa [President Jacob Zuma]”.
Ramolefi offered several alternatives to evade prison time, including offering the Buthelezis compensation for their loss, paying a fine and establishing a trust fund in the deceased man's name. He also committed to offering aviation training to underprivileged young people.
These offers were scoffed at by Nqobi Buthelezi, who told the court how the “brutal death” of his younger brother still haunted his elderly parents.
After the sentence was handed down, the Buthelezis respectfully cheered and let out a collective audible sigh of relief.
The case was postponed to Thursday (23-04-2015) when Ramolefi is expected to apply for leave to appeal.
Zuma's former pilot sent to prison for murder
In a desperate bid to avoid prison time, former presidential pilot Pule Ramolefi not only lied to a social worker but attempted to buy his way out.
Yesterday (21-04-2015), the Alexandra Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg sentenced Ramolefi to 15 years in prison for murder.
His crime: Stabbing the man who had an affair with his wife.
In April 2013, Ramolefi, 50, and his wife were at a car wash in Midrand when he spotted Sibusiso Buthelezi, the man who had wooed his wife.
Social worker Mosidi Sennelo, who was appointed by the defence to make recommendation for sentencing, compiled a report that painted a picture of a meek Ramolefi who was “greeted by a hot punch in his face” after Buthelezi tapped him on the shoulder.
Acting in self-defence, the pilot pulled out a Swiss pocket knife and stabbed Buthelezi, Sennelo said.
But Magistrate Gideon Scheidler snubbed this version as a lie and said Sennelo was subjective.
Prosecutor Percy Ramushu said that the report sent the message that “murder can be tolerated” and urged the court to issue a sentence that would restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Scheidler agreed and sentenced Ramolefi to 15 years in prison.
“The findings of this court were that [Buthelezi] ran away, his back was bleeding, he fell to the ground and [Ramolefi] stabbed him in the neck,” said Scheidler.
But Ramolefi maintained that he had no intention to kill the then 35-year old chemical engineer and will appeal his conviction and sentence.
The court heard that Ramolefi, who joined the South African Civil Aviation Authority in 2003, has been pilot to “the country's dignitaries… as well as the number one citizen of South Africa [President Jacob Zuma]”.
Ramolefi offered several alternatives to evade prison time, including offering the Buthelezis compensation for their loss, paying a fine and establishing a trust fund in the deceased man's name. He also committed to offering aviation training to underprivileged young people.
These offers were scoffed at by Nqobi Buthelezi, who told the court how the “brutal death” of his younger brother still haunted his elderly parents.
After the sentence was handed down, the Buthelezis respectfully cheered and let out a collective audible sigh of relief.
The case was postponed to Thursday (23-04-2015) when Ramolefi is expected to apply for leave to appeal.
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