Sapho Mgxwati and Makwenkwe Tungela have received heavy sentences in the Western Cape High Court for their farm attack in Philippi, Western Cape, in 2018.
Three years later, the two men have been convicted on two charges of murder, six charges of armed robbery, two charges of possession of unlicensed firearms, and two charges of attempted murder, reported IOL.
The men, according to Times Live, were arrested initially in 2018 after a shootout with police. They were also part of a group of ten suspects who robbed a local vegetable farm. They posed as bulk vegetable buyers to the farm owner. They allegedly pulled out firearms and forced the owner to open a safe from which they stole cash.
The farmer was said to have been shot in the back by the robbers. This information came to light during a court appearance at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court. The victim died.
One of the robbers was also killed during the shootout, with the rest of the gang remaining at large. They managed to flee the scene in a white Toyota Avanza and white VW Golf.
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson of The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that Mgwati was sentenced to life for murder, 15 years for armed robbery, and 5 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Tungela was also sentenced to life for murder, 15 years for the second murder, 15 years for armed robbery, 10 years for attempted murder, and 5 years for possession of illegal firearms.
Ntabazalila said that the sentences handed down were welcomed by the NPA.
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