EASTERN CAPE – The Provincial Head of the Hawks Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, praised the Gqeberha Serious Organised Crime Investigation team for securing the conviction and sentencing of Vuyo Mayekiso (46), Mzamo Mzobe (38) and Nasiphi Khoza (31) on charges of murder, attempted murder and business robbery. The sentences were handed down on 7 October 2024.
The case dates back to an incident in August 2021, where Gqeberha Serious Organised Crime officers, along with other law enforcement agencies, responded to gunshots near Kemston Road and Sueltz Street in Gqeberha.
The reports indicated that community members identified a suspicious vehicle, which the police intercepted at a red traffic light. When officers approached the vehicle, the suspects opened fire towards the police. The police reacted and fatally wounded one suspect.
During the search of the vehicle, police discovered three illegal firearms and stolen goods linked to a nearby business robbery. The accused previously appeared in court multiple times and were denied bail.
On 7 October 2024, the Gqeberha Magistrates Court sentenced them as follows:
Accused No. 1Â Mzamo Mzobe: Business robbery: 20 years
Attempted murder: 8 years
Murder: Life imprisonment.
Unlawful possession of firearm: Not guilty
Unlawful possession of ammunition: Not guilty
Accused No. 2 Vuyo Mayekiso:Business robbery: 10 years,
Attempted murder: 8 years
Murder: 15 years,
Unlawful possession of firearm: Not guilty,
Unlawful possession of ammunition: Not guilty,
Accused No. 3Â Nasiphi Khoza:Business robbery: 15 years
Attempted murder: 10 years
Murder: Life imprisonment,
Unlawful possession of firearm: 15 years,
Unlawful possession of ammunition: 5 years.
The above convicts will effectively serve the following years, Mzobe – 30 years imprisonment, Mayekiso – 15 years imprisonment and Khoza – 30 years imprisonment. The court further ruled that the longer sentences to run concurrently with the shorter ones.
Major General Ngwenya applauded the team’s dedication to fighting violent crime.
