Publications
- A Cape Town man has been handed a life sentence for murder.
- He was found guilty of murdering a Delft police officer in 2019.
- He also wounded another officer in the same shooting.
A Cape Town man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a Delft police officer.
Mzuhleli Tshanda, 30, was found guilty of the murder of Constable Songezo Khethiwe in the Western Cape High Court.
The court heard that on 21 July 2019, Khethiwe was on patrol with two colleagues in Delft when he saw a man and a woman walking along Spekboom Street.
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When the police officers approached them, the man opened fire. Khethiwe was killed, said Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani.
One of his colleagues was wounded in her right arm and the other officer was unharmed.
"The police vehicle that they were driving in had bullet holes, with both right windows shattered. Ten cartridges and two projectiles were recovered at the crime scene. The suspect fled the scene," said Hani.
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A few minutes later, the shooter, who was "brandishing a firearm", was spotted by different police officers, said Hani.
"A chase ensued, and the suspect started shooting at the police," she said.
"An exchange of fire followed, resulting in the police wounding and apprehending the suspect. Preliminary investigations revealed that the recovered firearm was the same firearm that shot and killed Constable Khethiwe and injured the second officer."
Tshanda was charged with nine counts, including murder, attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The sentences for eight of the charges will run concurrently with the life sentence for murder.
