PARKTOWN – The South African Police Service remains resolute in addressing the scourge of serious and violent crime as mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. It is on this basis that Provincial Commissioner of Police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended his detectives for the recent successes they have achieved in courts across the province. Over a period of four weeks (07 November to 02 December 2022) detectives from various stations and provincial units have collectively secured 22 life imprisonment terms with over 1900 years in prison for 153 accused in 138 separate cases. The charges in these cases include, among others; rape, murder, tampering with essential infrastructure, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and carjacking. On Friday, 02 December 2022 the Johannesburg High Court sentenced Phakamile Aaron Mweba, aged 44, to life term imprisonment with an additional 18 years imprisonment and Moses Nkosinathi Gqoba, aged 52, to two life terms imprisonment and an additional 18 years imprisonment. The multiple charges brought against the accused include murder, rape, attempted rape, house breaking with intend to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The duo and an accomplice forcefully gained entry to their victims’ home in Dobsonville on the evening of 17 July 2020. Both the 61-year-old woman and her 21-year-old granddaughter were brutally attacked by the accused, before they fled the scene with a laptop. The grandmother was rushed to a nearby hospital in Soweto, but declared dead on arrival as a result of the injuries she sustained. The case was assigned to Sergeant Ntsako Masuvhekele, a detective based at Soweto West Trio Task Team and within a couple of days two suspects were arrested (22 July 2020). The third suspect was killed during an unrelated robbery incident. Through the application of various forensic techniques, Masuvhekele’s investigation undisputedly linked both the accused to the crime scene, ensuring a water-tight case in court. In another unrelated case, Johannesburg High Court sitting in Palm Ridge sentenced Mongezi Shange, aged 24, to 21 years’ imprisonment on charges of murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Shange attacked his mother and stepfather with a knife in their home in Winniepark December last year. Shange’s mother was fatally wounded as a result of the brutal attack. The case was assigned to Warrant Officer Mogajane, a detective at SAPS Boipatong for further investigation. Mogajane’s meticulousness resulted in the swift sentencing of the accused. Also, on 14 November 2022 the Gauteng Regional Court sitting in Benoni sentenced Wandile Mgwenya, aged 29, to an effective 20 years’ imprisonment for the murder he committed in Mogoba Village (Putfontein) during February 2021 following a physical altercation with the victim. Detective Sergeant Makofana of SAPS Putfontain was assigned to the case and immediately commenced with his investigation. The suspect was arrested that same evening of the incident. Makofana pieced all the evidence together and justice ultimately prevailed. “Community members must rest assured that our members are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring perpetrators are brought to book. Service excellence such as quality investigation will restore our communities’ faith in the South African Police Service,” said Lt Gen Mawela. Source: South African Police Service