This is according to the spokesperson of the Hawks, Tlangelani Rikhotso, who revealed that the sentence was handed down last week Friday after 52-year-old murder-accused Simphiwe Mcunukeli was paid R50 000 to murder Nyamezeli Jeffrey Bambani (59) over an apparent dispute regarding the taxi route from Khuma to Potchefstroom. In August later that year, Mcunukeli then killed the victim at his home before he fled the scene. OFM News’ Pulane Choane reports that following the murder, the suspect was pursued by the Hawks in the province before he was finally arrested more than a year later for the said crime.

Following Bambani’s killing by Mcunukeli, police followed up on statements made by eyewitnesses and investigations led them to Cofimvaba, which is a small town in the Eastern Cape. Mcunukeli was arrested in the town in September 2016, which was a year and one month after he had committed the murder. The suspect was released on R5000 bail following his appearance at the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court, following which he evaded his trial and was ultimately tracked down by police and rearrested in May 2017. The accused remained in custody until he was recently sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and nine years for illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Patrick Mbotho, has lauded the investigative efforts of the team and warned that people who take the law into their own hands will feel the full might of the law.

OFM News