Killer 'aggressive, arrogant'

2007-10-02 08:36

Ingrid Oellermann

Durban - A former reserve soldier who shot his alleged fiancée on the weekend was previously convicted of shooting dead a Pietermaritzburg woman in 2000.

Traffic officer Makhosazana "Ruth" Ntuli was shot in her Westgate home on Saturday night by a man who then turned the gun on himself.

It was established on Monday that Ntuli's assailant has been identified as former SA National Defence Force reserve soldier Sibusiso Vilikazi, who was in 2003 sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for the murder of Lieutenant Carol Herbst, a clerk at Pietermaritzburg's Umkomaas Commando headquarters in Oribi Village.

Herbst was shot dead in her office on January 17  2000 by Vilikazi, who used an R4 rifle he had grabbed from a guard, Clement Ndlovu.

She feared for her life

Police spokesperson Inspector Joey Jeevan confirmed late on Monday that Vilikazi was the same man who was convicted and sentenced for Herbst's murder.

Vilikazi was an ex-Mkhonto Wesizwe and Apla member who joined the newly integrated SANDF's reserve force after 1994.

It was learned that Vilikazi (now about 32 years old) was released from jail on parole a year ago after serving just six years of his jail term, despite the fact that his initial sentence was increased from an effective seven years to 20 years' imprisonment by a full bench consisting of Judges Pete Combrinck, Willem Booysen and Dumile Kondile in February 2003.

The full bench criticised the initial term imposed by acting Judge Cassim Sardiwalla as a "mockery of justice", disagreed with a number of his findings in the case and found that Vilikazi had not shown the "slightest remorse" for killing Herbst.

A legal source who did not wish to be named said the public and many people working within the criminal justice system are losing confidence and are frustrated by the early release of prisoners who were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment because they have committed serious and violent crimes.

"This type of incident - the shooting of Ntuli and Vilikazi - is the result."

"The police and those working with justice put in a great deal of hard work, only to find that the criminals are on the streets the next day. One of the questions that the public is asking is how come people are sentenced and are let out on the streets again so soon. The only people who can answer that are Correctional Services."

The Witness contacted the Correctional Services Department but could not get a comment.

In evidence led at his trial in connection with Herbst's murder, Vilikazi was portrayed as an aggressive, arrogant person with unpredictable moods and a short temper.

Evidence was led that Herbst was afraid of him and reported to her superior that he had threatened her and she feared for her safety.

He had also abused another clerk.

On Monday, Vilikazi's latest victim, Ntuli, was still in a critical but stable condition in hospital. She sustained a number of gunshot wounds in circumstances that are still being investigated.

- The Witness