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Five men convicted of killing Rhythm City actor Dumi Masilela during a hijacking four years ago have been sentenced to imprisonment for life.
Bongani John Masombuka (37), Sfundo Harrison Nkosi (33), Khumbudzo Solomon Mukhuba (31), Brien Makhubedu (27) and Mashudu Malema (34) were also sentenced to a further 175 years imprisonment, collectively, on Wednesday.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said, “The judge ordered that the sentence run concurrently with the life sentence.”
The men, who went on a criminal spree on the day Masilela was killed, appeared in the Pretoria High Court. They were convicted on Friday. The charges against them included murder, kidnapping, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, theft, robbery with aggravating circumstances and attempted robbery.
The group’s night of terror started in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, on August 2 2017, when their first victim, Sizwe Nqobile Shabangu, had parked his Jeep Wrangler outside and was approached by the men in a taxi.
READ: Dumi Masilela’s aunt dies after hearing the news of her nephew’s death
“As he returned to his car, the five approached him in a Toyota Quantum and robbed him of his car. They forced him into the back of the car and took his belongings. Masombuka was left driving the Quantum while the rest were in the Jeep. They drove and followed each other towards Tembisa,” said Mahanjana.
Masilela drove himself to a hospital while wounded. He passed away after undergoing surgery.
The five fled the scene with Shabangu still inside the Jeep.
READ: Simphiwe Ngema keeps going by keeping Dumi Masilela’s legacy alive
“When they arrived at Kaalfontein, they tried to remove the tracking system, forced Shabangu to provide them with his PIN code for his bank card and withdrew R1 000. They left him in Ivory Park and abandoned the jeep in Ebony Park,” Mahanjana added.
After investigations, Mukhuba was arrested five days later for possession of an unlicensed firearm.
“After his arrest, the rest fled to Rustenburg. While in Rustenburg they [hijacked] a Ford Ranger. They robbed [the people] who were in the car of their belongings and R1 800 in cash. They tied their hands and feet and left them in the veld in Maile village,” said Mahanjana.
READ: Multitalented Dumi Masilela laid to rest
Masombuka was arrested six days later in Rustenburg while in possession of the Toyota Quantum and a stolen cellphone. Nkosi handed himself over to the police on August 15 2017. Makhubedu and Malema were later arrested in 2018, months apart, in Tembisa.
Mahanjana said the group had been in custody since their arrests.
Masilela’s mother, Sabatha, told the court that her son’s death affected her family and led to her losing her job as a teacher because she could not cope.
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