TWO Zimbabweans convicted of multiple murders and violent robberies in South Africa after terrorising residents of Troyville and Betrams in October 2023 have been sentenced to several life imprisonment terms by the Gauteng Local Division Court in Johannesburg.
Clifford Moyo and Nhlanhla Ncube, both Zimbabweans were charged with 18 criminal counts, including murder, violent robberies, assault, unlawfully remaining in South Africa and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The case centred on two deadly incidents that left five people dead.
In summary of the cases, the State submitted that on October 6 2023, at Ascot Street, Bertrams, the accused approached the deceased in count 13 and fatally shot him.
It further indicated that the convicts entered a property at Troyville on October 8 robbed and killed four people identified as Esther Nzimande, Bekani Nzimande, Proud Mpofu and Ntombizodwa Mumpande.
The Zimbabweans also robbed three more people before killing another victim during a spate of robberies.
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Moyo was found guilty on 14 counts while Ncube was found guilty on 12 counts that include murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and immigration offences.
In a judgment delivered recently, Judge Dario Dosio described the killings as “senseless” and said the accused showed no remorse for their crimes.
Moyo was sentenced to five life imprisonment, while Ncube received three life sentences for murder.
The court heard that several of the murders occurred during a violent robbery streak at a house where elderly victims in their 80s were attacked after watching a rugby match.
“With the exception of one deceased, all others were shot in the head,” the judge said.
The court found that the victims were killed “mercilessly” and that the accused acted out of greed rather than necessity because both men had jobs at the time.
One elderly victim was described as frail and sickly, yet was still shot “in cold blood”.
Family members who witnessed the attack suffered severe trauma, the court heard.
Judge Dosio said the accused had shown no remorse and continued to maintain their innocence despite their convictions.
“They are dangerous and need to be removed from the community,” the judge ruled.
The court further noted that violent crime had reached alarming levels in South Africa and stressed the need for harsh sentences to deter offenders and reassure communities.
In addition to the life sentences, both men received lengthy prison terms for robbery and firearm offences.
However, these sentences will run concurrently with the life imprisonment terms.
Both men were also declared unfit to possess firearms under South Africa’s Firearms Control Act.
The accused, both Zimbabwean nationals, were also convicted of contravening South Africa’s immigration laws.
Court papers state that several survivors later identified the accused during police identification parades held at Jeppe Police Station.
During trial, Ncube denied knowing Moyo and claimed witnesses had mistaken him for someone else.
However, Judge Dosio rejected his evidence as false and fabricated.
The court found it highly improbable that multiple witnesses who did not know each other independently identified the same suspects without collusion.
The judge also dismissed challenges to the police identification parades, ruling that although some paperwork irregularities existed, the procedures remained fair and reliable.
Judge Dosio accepted the evidence of the witnesses as truthful and consistent with the surrounding circumstances.
“The witnesses had no reason to falsely implicate the accused,” the judgment stated.