Port Shepstone Warrant Officer convicted and sentenced to 25 years for murder

The Ramsgate High Court on 02 June 2017 convicted and sentenced forty four (44) year old Warrant Officer Patrick Gosling, to 25 years imprisonment for two counts of murder. Both cases, although they happened separately, were investigated by the Independent Police Investigating Directorate (IPID) and were linked through the modus operandi of the convicted policeman. Gosling, who was based at Port Shepstone SAPS, was sentenced to 10 years and 15 years imprisonment, respectively for each count of murder.

It is alleged that on 13 August 2014, Warrant Officer Gosling shot and killed, then 26 year old, Mlondi Ngcobo at the Margate Taxi Rank. The accused alleged that he was busy with a crime prevention operation at the the taxi rank. He alleged that the deceased had run away and that after he chased him, the deceased had come at the policeman with a knife, threatening to stab him. The policeman then fired at the deceased, hitting him in the abdomen. Deceased then died as a result of police shooting.

On 21 December 2014 the same Warrant Officer shot and killed then 29 year old Michael Zakhele Ndovela, of Nyandezulu area, Paddock. The incident took place at Port Shepstone Taxi Rank. The accused raised a similar defence that the deceased had attacked him with a knife.

On both matters he alleged that he wanted to arrest the suspects because he suspected them of dealing with drugs and they had attacked him during the arrest.

Both matters were investigated by the IPID which made recommendations for the accused to be prosecuted for murder. Warrant Office Gosling was then arrested by the IPID on 06 June 2015 for two counts of murder. The trial took place at the Ramsgate High Court, where the accused was convicted on both counts and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on count and 15 years imprisonment on the second count. The sentences will run concurrently.

During the trial, it was further established that the accused had committed other crimes of a similar nature where he had shot and killed suspects in the South Coast, in areas such as Port Shepstone, Murchison, Margate and Harding.

The IPID commends its investigator for conducting a thorough investigation which uncovered a disturbing pattern of criminality by a police officer.

Issued by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate

For inquiries, contact:
Mr Moses Dlamini - National Spokesman
012 399 0049 / 082 781 7112
mdlamini@ipid.gov.za