08/12/2023
142 YEARS IMPRISONMENT HANDED DOWN TO 39-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO RANDOMLY SHOT 14 PEOPLE AND KILLED 03, AT A TAVERN IN THABAZIMBI IN 2019
The Police Detective at a rank of a Sergeant, attached at Thabazimbi investigating unit, successfully secured 03 life sentences and one hundred and forty-two (142) years, handed down by Polokwane High Court after a male accused, Maholobela Tanki, aged 39, was found guilty and convicted for killing three people and attempted to kill eight other people during a robbery committed at a tavern in Northam, during 2019.
Whereas his accomplices, a female accused (37), was turned into a state witness, and another male accused (44) was not found guilty at all the charges.
During the trial, Court heard that on 12 October 2019, at around 23:20, the accused and his two accomplices went to a tavern in Thabazimbi and demanded money from the teller. In the process, some of the bystanders tried to intervene. The accused produced a firearm and fired shots randomly at them. Three were shot dead, and eight wounded. Suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of money and ci******es. Cases of murder and attempted murder were opened. They were assigned to Sergeant Monako Dikobe for further investigation.
Team of Police investigators were activated. Following meticulous investigation, three suspects were arrested. Police seized one unlicensed firearm and ammunition from the accused. One of the accused was found not guilty, and the other turned into a state witness.
Polokwane High Court, sentenced Maholobela Tanki (39) as follows:
* Three (03) life imprisonment for 03 counts of murder.
* One hundred and twenty (120) years imprisonment for 08 counts of attempted murder.
* Fifteen (15) years imprisonment for 01 count of armed robbery.
* Five (5) years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed firearm.
* Two (2) years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed ammunition.
The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.