TWO MURDERERS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN JAIL

EASTERN CAPE – The Port Elizabeth High Court convicted and sentenced Masixole Mbeki (29) and Lunga Welkom (29) on 15 April 2021 to life imprisonment for murder.
On 12 November 2019, the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Gqeberha were alerted to a murder that took place in Jeffrey’s Bay. On arrival at the scene, a body of Johnnie Marx (77) was found with assault injuries and strangulation marks. The deceased who was the father to Advocate Swanepoel from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Gqeberha was also robbed of his belongings.
The Hawks’ investigation led to the arrest of two men. Items stolen during the ordeal as well as items purchased using the deceased’s credit card after his death were found in their possession. One of the accused confessed to the crimes.
Mbeki and Welkom were each sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 25 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances as well as 15 years imprisonment for fraud and money laundering.
Major General Mboiki Ngwenya, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape applauded the investigating team on the sentence. “Crime is a scourge that knows no boundaries, no matter what patriotic role one plays in society it does not render one invincible, as in this case with the DPP advocate when she lost her father in such a gruesome manner,” he said.