Four of the five suspects who were involved in the armed robbery of a filling station at Burgersfort and the subsequent shooting and killing of a police sergeant experienced the full might of the law when they were handed lengthy jail term on Friday.
Joseph Malapane (30), Christoper Matenchi (32), Phishego Malepe (27) and Andrew Matemane (30) were sentenced to life imprisonment plus 20 years in the Lydenburg Regional Court after they were found guilty of attempted robbery, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and murder.
The sentencing stems from an incident on 15 May 2009 when the suspects attempted to rob a filling station at Burgersfort. The police had received information about a possible robbery and were on standby when the suspects pounced on the owner of the filling station when he left the premises with an undisclosed amount of money.
A shoot out ensued between the suspects and members of the SAPS’s Operation Response Team and in the process sergeant Macasio Madyene (36) was shot and killed. Two suspects were arrested on the scene, while three other managed to escape. The suspects were followed and once again police members were involved in a shootout which left one suspect dead. An unlicensed 9mm fire-arm was found in his possession.
The fourth suspect was later traced, shot and injured during a third shootout with police members. The last suspect was arrested approximately one month after the incident.
The four suspects first appeared in court during May of 2009 and bail was successfully opposed. The four suspects were all found guilty on charges of murder, attempted robbery and the possession of unlicensed fire-arms and ammunition on 12 July and earlier this week they were all sentenced to life imprisonment, as well as a further 20 years in prison, which will run concurrent to the life imprisonment.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Limpopo, Lt Gen Simon Mpembe, appreciated the work of the investigating officer for acquiring the hefty sentence for these hard core criminals.
For enquiries please:
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi
Cell: 082 373 2408
