By AGISANANG SCUFF
5 August 2026 – A man (38) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Western Cape High Court for robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, murder of a police official, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition. This stems from November 2021, when members of Table View SAPS responded to a complaint of business robbery at Killarney Gardens.
The Hawks spokesperson in Western Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said on arrival at the scene, they were confronted by armed men, who opened fire at them. Vukubi said the exchange of fire ensued which resulted in the fatal shooting of a police officer, whereas his colleague sustained gunshot wounds.
“The suspects robbed the firearms of the two SAPS members, however, they were later recovered at the crime scene. The accused, Gcinikhaya Mbukula was sentenced to life imprisonment with additional 57 years imprisonment.
“He was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, five years imprisonment for kidnapping, life imprisonment for murder of a police official, five years imprisonment for attempted murder, 15 years imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm and two years imprisonment for possession of ammunition,” he said.
Vukubi further said the sentences imposed on count 1,2,4,5,6 and 7 are to run concurrently with the sentence imposed on count 3. He added that Mbukula will effectively serve life imprisonment.
“One of the accused on this matter, Luyanda Fuzile, has since been sentenced in 2023, to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty. The trial for the two remaining accused, Baxolele Matolo and Vusumzi Nyanda, will resume on 11 August 2026,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Hawks’ Head Major General Solomon Makgato applauded the resilience, perseverance and meticulous investigation and prosecution by the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) after yet another accused was sentenced for the murder of a police official.
The Guardian 