Police Constable sentenced for murder, discharge of firearm and burglary - Maokeng CAS 200/11/2009 and Maokeng CAS 201/11/2009

An IPID investigation has led to the conviction and sentencing of 33 year old police Constable Tokolo Puntsa Chala from Maokeng in the Free State. The Kroonstad Magistrates Court found the policeman guilty of murder, discharge of a firearm and burglary on 5 August 2014. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on the charge of murder - 6 years of which is suspended. He was also sentenced to 3 years imprisonment each on the charges of discharge of a firearm and burglary - both sentences were wholly suspended. The policeman was based at Heuningspruit SAPS at the time of the incident.

His conviction and sentencing follows an incident which took place on 20 November 2009 in which Constable Chala shot and killed his girlfriend (22). He later went to his other girlfriend's place of residence where he broke into the house. The mother of his girlfriend sustained a gunshot wound to the leg while attempting to wrestle the gun away from the accused.

The IPID investigated the matter which culminated the conviction and sentencing of the accused by the Kroonstad Magistrates Court. He has since been dismissed from the police service.

Issued by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate

For enquiries:
IPID National Spokesman
Moses Dlamini
082 809 1927
mdlamini@ipid.gov.za