5 days ago
Ex-policeman receives 36-year sentence for colleague's murder during arrest
Following making an arrest at a tavern for an armed robbery, a former policeman shot and killed his colleague. He will serve 36 years behind bars for the unprovoked attack.
Image: File Photo
A former policeman of Namakgale will serve 36 years behind bars for shooting and murdering his colleague after they made an arrest at a tavern where an armed robber was nabbed.
The Limpopo Division of the High Court in Polokwane convicted and sentenced the former warrant officer, Olson Mnisi, 63, to 20 years for murder and 16 years for two counts of attempted murder.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said Mnisi was also declared unfit to possess firearms in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act.
Meanwhile, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) welcomed the conviction and sentencing.
Mnisi pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
During court proceedings, the court heard evidence that on September 16, 2018, at Mashishimale Village in Namakgale, Mnisi was part of a South African Police Service (SAPS) team, including the deceased, Colonel Lesiba Gilbert Matsetela, tasked with arresting a suspect in an armed robbery case.
'Upon arrival at a tavern where the suspect was located, one of the officers engaged the suspect in conversation, after which the suspect was arrested. Without provocation, Mnisi opened fire on Matsetela and the suspect, injuring them both,' said Malabi-Dzhangi.
Despite Matsetela's pleas for Mnisi to stop, as they were colleagues, the now-sentenced murderer continued firing.
'The injured officer was rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Mnisi was subsequently arrested,' said Malabi-Dzhangi.
In aggravation of sentence, State advocate Patrick Magoda argued that the offence was particularly serious as it involved the betrayal of a fellow officer.
'He highlighted that the deceased's family had lost a father and breadwinner, and that Mnisi's actions undermined the trust and duty of care expected among law enforcement officials. Advocate Magoda urged the court to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent, particularly for public servants who abuse their positions,' said Malabi-Dzhangi.
The Director of Public Prosecutions for Limpopo, Advocate Ivy Thenga, said: 'This sentence sends a clear message to public officials that violations of the laws and codes governing their conduct will not go unpunished.'
Ipid confirmed that Mnisi retired from the SAPS service.
Ipid spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, said that on September 9, 2018, at around 9am, Matsetela and another colleague from Bushbuckridge SAPS went to Namakgale to arrest the suspect for allegations of business robbery and possession of a firearm.
The pair requested back-up from Namakgale SAPS, and three other police officers were assigned as back-up.
During the incident, the deceased was shot in his leg and stomach.
The sentence was welcomed by Ipid, said Shuping.
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