NGQELENI - The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in the Eastern Cape, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene has welcomed a hefty sentence that was handed down to Mandisi Makhanda (35). Makhanda was sentenced on Friday, 12 August 2022 by the Mthatha High Court for the murders of three members of one family namely, Novangeli Nomqonde (36), Fezile Nomqonde (38) and Zalisile Nomqonde (44) in Ngqeleni almost four years ago (October 2018).

The court sentenced Makhanda after forensic and oral evidence from several witnesses was overwhelming against him. On Thursday, 04 October 2018, the accused stormed into a spaza shop at Mafini Administrative Area in Ngqeleni, where he robbed them at gunpoint, and fatally shot the three victims. Makhanda was also a fugitive from the law after escaping from a correctional facility in the North West, where he was serving a life sentence for murder when he committed the offence. He was convicted on 19 July 2022, and sentencing was handed down last week Friday (12 August 2022) as follows:

• Three (03) life sentences for murder

• Fifteen (15) years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances

• Five (05) years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed firearm.

• Five (05) years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed firearm (another case in Madeira)

• Three years imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition

He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Mene commended the team of detectives from Provincial Organised Crime Unit for the effective and efficient manner in which they performed their investigations. “This sentence will serve as a deterrent to those, who think committing crime is the way to go”, added Lt Gen Mene.

Source: South African Police Service