HEAVY SENTENCE IMPOSED ON KWASA’s KILLER

KING WILLIAMS TOWN: 04 June 2021 – The South African Police Service welcomes the sentencing of Viwe Rulumeni, 23, for murdering Asithandile Kwasa Zozo in August 2020.
Kwasa was tragically stabbed several times by Rulumeni, in full view of her 11-year-old sister and a cousin. Rulumeni picked up a quarrel with the deceased at Kwasa”s home. She managed to escape through the kitchen door. However, Rulumeni continued pursuing her until caught a few mitres away from her homestead in the street where he finally stabbed her to death.
After the incident Rulumeni was reportedly attempted suicide, but was subsequently hospitalised under police guard at Butterworth Hospital. He survived, and he made his first appearance at the Dutywa Magistrate’s Court on 20 August. On the 2nd of June 2021, Butterworth Regional court found the accused guilty of murder and sentenced him to 20 years direct imprisonment.
In a separate incident, Sinethemba Gwebu, 29 years and Athenkosi Soldati, 17 years old were sentenced in Mount Frere Regional Court for the murder of an elderly woman.The two accused attacked a 78 year old woman at her home and robbed her an amount of R9000. They later fled the scene but fortunately the senior citizen was able to inform the public who had stabbed her before she later died.
The police followed the lead and arrested the two within 72 hours. They were found in possession of R6000 cash and the cell phone belonging to the deceased.
Gwebu was sentenced to undergo 10 years imprisonment for robbery and 15 years imprisonment for murder, while Soldati was sentenced to undergo 15 years imprisonment for robbery and life imprisonment for murder.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga commended the police for the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators and continued to say, “We will not rest until perpetrators that harm children and women especially the elderly are taken away from the public and are sent to prison. There was a national outcry after the young Girl (Kwasa) was attacked. It is therefore critical that the public be informed about the work of our detectives in cases of national interest.”