The National Head of Directorate for Priority Investigation (Hawks) Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza has welcomed the sentencing of a former police Constable Sam Nkambule (37) after he was he was convicted for murder and truck hijacking by the Ficksburg High Court on Wednesday.
Nkambule together with his accomplice Lebakae Ntsekalle (36) hijacked a truck from Maseru to Durban on 20 February 2015. The two shot and killed Mphafulani Chaka using Nkambule service pistol and his body was dumped in the river between Ficksburg and Fouriesburg.
Ntsekalle drove way with the truck, later the same night the owner of the truck noticed that the truck and immediately informed the police. The truck was intercepted at Wilge Plaza, Ntsekalle was arrested, later through investigation Nkambule was also arrested and charged with murder and truck hijacking. During September 2015 Ntsekalle pleaded guilty and was sentenced 38 years imprisonment whilst Nkambule was sented to an effective 35 years after he pleaded guilty on both charges of murder and truck hijacking.
Lieutenant General Ntlemeza has congratulated the investigating officer for a sterling investigative work, which resulted in the successful sentencing of Nkambule and Ntsekalle.
“We have noted and welcome the sentencing, mindful that this case took longer in terms of investigations and conclusion. At times our members are accused unfairly by some in society of dragging their feet. However, we understood that for police to secure harsh convictions they needed to conduct thorough and good investigations, leaving no stone unturned. And now the results are there for anyone to see. This is what we have been emphasizing that whilst we are pleased when police arrest suspects, what becomes even crucial going forward is to secure harsher convictions,” stated Lieutenant General Ntlemeza.
He said the sentence should serve as a lesson to other police officers who are corrupt that Hawks and the SAPS watching. “Our country deserves good police officers and without any fear or favour, will make sure that we remove you from the service and put you where you belong in jail. You will be no longer wearing the blue uniform, you will wear the orange uniform,” concluded General Ntlemeza.
