Hlokomelo Mabogale
Just a day after the commemoration and honouring the fallen men and women in the South African Police Service (SAPS) in line of duty in Tshwane, the Hawks in Mpumalanga welcomed the sentence handed down to Freeman Thulani Maisena (33) and Martin Mohlala (23) by the Mbombela High Court on Friday, 04 September 2020 for murdering a police officer and her husband.
The pair was found guilty and sentenced to three life terms for murdering, the late Sergeant Thembisile Ndlovu (41), her husband, the late Jabulani Khoza (46) and the accused Mandla Sambo (35) who also died during the shoot-out with the victims. They were also sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for discharging of firearm in a public place.
Describing the scene when Sergeant Ndlovu lost her life, the Mpumalanga provincial Hawks said Ndlovu worked at Calcutta SAPS and was asleep with her late husband Khoza at their home in Mkhuhlu Trust in December 2018.”The duo along with their accomplice broke into Sergeant Ndlovu’s home and shot at victims who retaliated and fatally wounded one of the accused, Sambo. Sergeant Ndlovu was also fatally wounded whilst her husband later succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital.”
The killers fled the using the victim`s vehicle and they then abandoned it along the road at Mkhuhlu.
Maisena and Mohlala were arrested on 05 January 2019 at their hiding place in Mhluzi following the probe by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team. During the arrest the convicts were found in possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunitions. Said the Hawks.
Major General Zodwa Mokoena said although sergeant Ndlovu and her husband Khoza cannot be brought back, they hope that their families will find solace in that the criminals will spend lengthy time in jail.
