25 Years Imprisonment For Police Murderer

The Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Nkanyiso Nzama, to an effective 25 years imprisonment for the murders and attempted murders he committed in Kranskop in March 2019. Nzama was also convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Constable Thandoluhle Mhlongo and his friend Mazwi Zuke were in the Kranskop area when they were shot at by Nzama and others, a shootout between the two groups ensued, and Mhlongo died at the scene while Zuke died in hospital. Two of Nzama’s co-conspirators were also killed in the shootout while he was arrested a week later.

In court, Senior State Adv Sipho Magwaza led cellphone and vehicle tracking evidence to link Nzama to the crime. Magwaza led the evidence of witnesses who the court found to be credible. While the state argued for life imprisonment, based on the fact that the murder was planned and that the subject killed was a police officer from the Kranskop area, the court after hearing arguments on a sentence,  from both the state and the defence found Nzama’s age to be a significant and compelling circumstance to deviate from the minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

Nzama was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment each for the murders of Mhlongo and Zuke, 15 years imprisonment each for the murders of his two co-conspirators, seven years imprisonment for each of the three counts of attempted murder, and 12 years imprisonment for the unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, resulting in the effective sentence of 25 years imprisonment. Further, Nzama was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes this successful prosecution, hopes this sentence will send out a strong warning to all perpetrators of the crime that they will face the law no matter how long it takes.

Note: The NPA’s media statements are available on the website: www.npa.gov.za

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

Regional Spokesperson: DPP KZN

Enquiries: nramkisson@npa.gov.za / 071 6700 229