Life Imprisonment for Nigerian National Convicted of Murdering Off-Duty Police Officer
20 MARCH 2025
Life Imprisonment for Nigerian National Convicted of Murdering Off-Duty Police Officer
Upington, Northern Cape – The High Court of South Africa, Northern Cape Division, sitting in Upington, has sentenced Emmanuel Chidi Okafor (36), a Nigerian national, to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of off-duty police officer Constable Stefano Nico Visagie. Okafor was also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of Rhyno Van Wyk and convictions on housebreaking with intent to murder and murder as well as attempted murder.
The conviction stems from a brutal attack in the early hours of 8 January 2020 in Lennertsville, Keimoes, near Upington. Okafor and Van Wyk were neighbours who had been involved in multiple disputes in the days leading up to the incident. On 7 January 2020, Van Wyk hosted a social gathering at his home, attended by the deceased, friends, and other guests.
Earlier that evening, a witness testified that he had visited Okafor’s house to purchase tik (methamphetamine). While using the drug, Okafor expressed his intent to kill Van Wyk and everyone in his house after hearing voices coming from the gathering. At approximately 4:00 AM, after the occupants had gone to sleep, Okafor forced his way into the house through an unlocked door. Armed with a dagger-like knife, he stabbed Constable Visagie twice in the chest, piercing his heart and lung, as he slept on the floor and attacked Van Wyk, stabbing him in the upper left thigh.
As Okafor attempted to stab Van Wyk in the chest, Van Wyk managed to deflect the blow, and a struggle ensued. Other occupants of the house intervened, with one striking Okafor with a spade, forcing him to retreat. Van Wyk escaped, and Okafor fled the scene. Okafor returned home, gathered some belongings, and fled Lennertsville. He was later traced and arrested the following day in Rustenburg, North West Province, during an intelligence-driven operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
The murder weapon was recovered after it fell from Okafor’s trousers while he was being transported in a truck. The court found that Okafor acted with premeditation, having plotted the attack in response to his disputes with Van Wyk. Throughout the trial, Okafor attempted to delay proceedings, changing legal representatives three times, and filing multiple unwarranted postponement requests, which the State strongly opposed.
During sentencing, the prosecution, led by Senior State Advocate Jaques Rosenberg, presented four victim impact statements, including testimonies from: Constable Visagie’s mother and sister, and The mother of his child, detailing the profound emotional and psychological toll of his murder.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions commends the prosecution team, initially led by Senior State Advocate Quinton Hollander before he fell ill and later taken over by Advocate Jaques Rosenberg. The office also recognises the commitment and diligence of the South African Police Service investigators, whose expertise was instrumental in securing this conviction. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes this sentence, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that violent offenders, particularly those who target law enforcement officers, face the full force of the law. The value of human life cannot be overstated, and the NPA remains relentless in its pursuit of justice to deter would-be murderers and uphold the rule of law.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
Email: MSenokoatsane@npa.gov.za
Mobile: 073 423 3539