Dudu Busani
Dudu Busani
Johannesburg high court Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has sentenced the 11 Jeppestown killers to four life terms each - one life term each for each cop killed.
Nkosinathi Mchunu, 33, Sizwe Mbuyazi, 27, Khumbulani Mabaso, 35, Sizwe Dlamini, 23, Sihle Mdunge, 27, Muzulelwa Vezi, 30, Siyanda Mngomezulu, 25, Linda Hlongwa, 24, Bekokwakhe Zulu, 30, Mkhonzeni Sesiba, 31 and Zinto Mqunu, 30 were further sentenced to 10 years each for killing the eight robbers in the house with them.
They received another 30 years each for the six attempted murders and six for the possession of firearms and ammunition.
The sentences will run concurrently.
Senzo Mweli, accused number two and the mastermind behind the robbery that led to the murders, was sentenced to 20 years for armed robbery and attempted murder.
He was arrested three months after the incident and was not at the Jeppestown house.
Passing sentence Judge Mokgoatlheng said: "They are all young people and I understand where they come from because I was born in the same circumstances.
"What I don't understand is why people had to be killed in cold blood. In South Africa today a black man can rise and become whatever he wants to be."
He said the 11 men had resisted coming out of the house for four hours and had shot at everything that moved on the outside, including a police helicopter.
"I'm aware that normally youth serves as a mitigating factor but if a youth behaves like an adult he cannot hide behind his youth. The only compelling factors I find in your favour is the death of your fellow robbers," he said.
In June 2006 the 11 men robbed a supermarket before engaging in a gun battle with police at a house in Jeppestown. Four policemen and eight of the robbers died.
all guilty
Dudu Busani
Dudu Busani
Johannesburg high court Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has sentenced the 11 Jeppestown killers to four life terms each - one life term each for each cop killed.
Nkosinathi Mchunu, 33, Sizwe Mbuyazi, 27, Khumbulani Mabaso, 35, Sizwe Dlamini, 23, Sihle Mdunge, 27, Muzulelwa Vezi, 30, Siyanda Mngomezulu, 25, Linda Hlongwa, 24, Bekokwakhe Zulu, 30, Mkhonzeni Sesiba, 31 and Zinto Mqunu, 30 were further sentenced to 10 years each for killing the eight robbers in the house with them.
They received another 30 years each for the six attempted murders and six for the possession of firearms and ammunition.
The sentences will run concurrently.
Senzo Mweli, accused number two and the mastermind behind the robbery that led to the murders, was sentenced to 20 years for armed robbery and attempted murder.
He was arrested three months after the incident and was not at the Jeppestown house.
Passing sentence Judge Mokgoatlheng said: "They are all young people and I understand where they come from because I was born in the same circumstances.
"What I don't understand is why people had to be killed in cold blood. In South Africa today a black man can rise and become whatever he wants to be."
He said the 11 men had resisted coming out of the house for four hours and had shot at everything that moved on the outside, including a police helicopter.
"I'm aware that normally youth serves as a mitigating factor but if a youth behaves like an adult he cannot hide behind his youth. The only compelling factors I find in your favour is the death of your fellow robbers," he said.
In June 2006 the 11 men robbed a supermarket before engaging in a gun battle with police at a house in Jeppestown. Four policemen and eight of the robbers died.
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