IPID secures a successful sentencing on a murder case
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) secures a successful sentencing on a murder case and on three (3) additional charges it was investigating.
The IPID has secured life imprisonment sentence of a murder case as well as sentencing on 3 other additional charges to the case it was investigating in Free state. On the 4th August 2017 at about 22:34, Constable Thato Mjikelo of Selosesha Flying Squad in Bloemfontein had a fight with his colleagues, who were in company of his ex-girlfriend at a local tavern/restaurant, he went away and came back with a firearm (not state/official firearm as his was withdrawn) and started shooting randomly.
Constable Mjikelo struck at his ex-girlfriend Constable Tsakane on the right arm, he went further and shot Sergeant Moroane on the back of his head and he died on the scene. He further shot at a civilian at the back, fortunately he survived. He then shot at Surgent but he missed him. All this happened at Tau-Nameng tavern of section H in Botshabelo.
Thato who was a member of the South African Police flying squad in Botshabelo has been in custody since 2017 as he was denied bail. He appeared before Bloemfontein High Court sitting in Botshabelo on the 17 July 2020 where he was found guilty of the crime. His conviction was as follows:
- Life imprisonment for Murder
- 3 x attempted murder counts which results to 8 years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts and 6 years’ imprisonment on the third count.
- R1000.00 or 3 months’ imprisonment for Assault
- 3 years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of fire-arm
- The sentences on counts 2 to 4 to run concurrently with the sentence on count 1.
The Police Constable was also dismissed from the South African Police Service employment following the negative recommendations made by IPID.
IPID welcome the sentencing of the Constable Mjikelo and the Directorate view this sentence as a strong message to those who continue to commit similar crimes.
Issued by Independent Police Investigative Directorate
Enquiries:
Ndileka Cola
Director Communication and Marketing
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)
Tel: 012 319 0092
Cell: 073 376 8758
E-mail: ncola@ipid.gov.za