By REGINALD KANYANE
10 October 2025- Two men sentenced to life imprisonment by the North West High Court sitting in Mogwase. The accused, Sibongiseni Ngubane (33) and Thabani Lethukuthula Gwala (30), were convicted of murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm following the brutal killing of Rustenburg businessman, Ben Gumbi (50) in August 2023.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Sivenathi Gunya said the conviction stems from a tragic incident on 23 August 2023, when Gumbi and his wife stopped at a local coffee shop. Gumbi went inside to order coffee while his wife remained in the locked vehicle. Gunya said while waiting for his order, he stepped outside to take a phone call.
“Moments later, a car pulled up and two men got out and opened fire on him, fatally wounding him before fleeing the scene. The suspects later abandoned the getaway vehicle and switched to another car.
“The police investigations, aided by surveillance footage from the coffee shop and fingerprints found on the abandoned vehicle, led to the arrest of Ngubane and Gwala in September and December 2023, respectively,” he said.
Gunya further said in court, both accused pleaded not guilty, but were convicted based on the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution. He added that during sentencing, the state prosecutor advocate Dibuseng Ntsala, argued that violent crime has reached alarming levels in South Africa, leaving many families in grief.
“Ntsala told the court that Gumbi’s life was taken in an extremely brutal, violent and callous manner. He was shot in cold blood and in full public view. The state urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment for the murder.
“The court agreed with the prosecution and sentenced both men to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years each for possession of an unlicensed firearm. The sentences will run concurrently,” said Gunya.
Meanwhile, welcoming the outcome, Dr Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, commended Ntsala for her diligence in bringing the matter to a successful conclusion. Makhari emphasised that the sentence serves as a strong deterrent to perpetrators of violent crime.
The Guardian 