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Hardened con 'becoming pastor'
15/05/2006 21:57 - (SA)
Nkosana ka Makaula
Nelspruit - A man who was sentenced last year to a total of 154 years in jail was in court again on Monday, on charges of hijacking a man along the N4 highway.
Simon Ben Mnisi, 38, of Phola near White River pleaded guilty in Nelspruit regional court to charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, as well as robbery. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Magistrate Albertus le Roux remarked that there was no chance of him ever being rehabilitated and the sentence would run concurrently with his earlier sentences.
Mnisi hijacked Elias Mlangeni, 62, of Witbank along the N4 in Nelspruit on November 2, 2002. Mlangeni was replacing a tyre when two men armed with pistols attacked him.
Mlangeni was blindfolded, put in the boot of his car and taken to Schoemanskloof where he was robbed of R2 500 and dumped on the roadside. Police later found the car in Mnisi's possession.
Mnisi committed most of his crimes along the N4.
29 charges 'fabrications'
Last year, the judge who convicted him in the High Court to a total of 154 years, said Mnisi had an "inherent propensity for evil".
Mnisi faced 34 charges, ranging from murder to theft. He initially pleaded guilty to only five of the charges, and those related to one hijacking in which the driver was killed.
All the other charges, he told the court, "are mere fabrications".
His girlfriend, Reginah Monareng, broke up with him when she took the stand, saying: "I cannot continue being a girlfriend of someone like this!".
His niece, Rose Mawelela, said she could not believe her uncle could have done the things he was accused of because it was he who made sure the family went to church.
'Watch me in action'
Mnisi's life of crime started in 1987, when he was 19 years old and broke into people's homes.
He claims to have found a "new life" in jail.
"I am about to be ordained as a pastor," he said before being led to the cells on Monday.
"My fellow inmates have all embraced me and the Lord as their guides. I aim to make a big difference in the lives of everybody around me.
"Come and see me in action in jail and you will see for yourself that I'm not boasting."
- African Eye
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