By Libuseng Nyaka
HARRISMITH – The Bloemfontein high court sitting in Harrismith has sentenced Velaphi Paulos Mange and Tsietsi Arnold Moloi to 15 and six years direct imprisonment respectively for the murder of Oupa Mthombeni.
Their two co-accused were acquitted.
This follows their conviction of murder, robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to evidence before court Oupa Mthombeni was shot dead in front of his house in Leribe village in Qwaqwa upon arrival from his filling station business on *November 8, 2023.
The court heard that before Mthombeni was shot dead he phoned his wife who was already asleep and asked why the gate was left open and dogs were not running around as usual.
The wife responded that she did not know why it was opened. Shortly afterwards Mthombeni’s wife who was with their grandchild heard some gunshots and looked through the window and saw her husband lying on the ground near their main gate and quickly ran outside.
She discovered that her husband was already dead and called for help.
It was later discovered that his Toyata Hilux bakkie was missing. A case of murder was opened.
During the premiliminary investigation, police discovered not only his vehicle was stolen, while his three firearms, video camera and Rolex wristwatch were also missing.
Tseki detectives cracked the case and arrested four suspects at Carltonville in Gauteng province at a mining area where they were working as zamazamas. The stolen vehicle, three firearms, wrist watch and video camara were recovered.
