Pietermaritzburg: The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has welcomed the double life sentence handed down by the Pietermaritzburg High Court to hitman Sabelo Phewa. Phewa was convicted of the murder of Sibusiso Sithole, who was a Municipal Manager for the Richmond Local Municipality.
According to South African Government News Agency, the police reported that Sithole was shot and killed at the Richmond licensing office in 2017 while on his way to attend a meeting with the then council to discuss issues he was investigating. He was at the time investigating fraud and corruption involving tenders and kickbacks in the municipality.
The SAPS Political Killings task team took over investigations in 2018, leading to the arrest of Phewa. The firearm found in his possession at the time of his arrest was linked to several other murders, including that of Amos Ngcobo, whose wife had ordered his hit. The wife turned State witness and was sentenced to five years imprisonment, the South African Police Service said in a statement.
Today, Phewa was sentenced as follows: murder of Sithole – life imprisonment; murder of Ngcobo – life imprisonment; attempted murder of police officers at the time when they were effecting his arrest – five years imprisonment; possession of an unlicensed firearm – 15 years imprisonment, and unlawful possession of ammunition – five years imprisonment.
General Masemola commended the SAPS political killings task team for their efforts in solving the case and securing a lengthy conviction for the hitman. He highlighted that the team had now secured more than 30 life sentences for various hitmen and those who ordered hits, providing answers and closure to affected families.