Provincial Commissioner welcomes hefty sentences handed to ruthless murderers #S…

Provincial Commissioner welcomes hefty sentences handed to ruthless murderers #Sentencing

The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed maximum sentences secured by the Ikageng Detectives recently in the Potchefstroom Regional Court.

This is after the court found Phindile Vis (29) and Vuyisile Mkhalipi (22) guilty and subsequently sentenced them on Tuesday, 9 June 2020 to 30 and 25 years imprisonment respectively for murder and theft of motor vehicle. The sentences emanate from an incident which was reported on Saturday, 9 March 2019 after the body of a 51-year-old Isaac Tsietsi Mogale, known as "King of the Rastas", was found by a passer-by inside a water hole near Dassierand, Potchefstroom. He sustained multiple injuries and his head was covered with a plastic bag. Further investigations revealed that his vehicle; a BMW was also missing.

The suspect was identified shortly after the incident was reported. That was after the police visited the accused's place on Tuesday, 12 March 2019 and found an occupant. The latter informed the police that the accused left his place with a lot of blood on the floor, which was cleaned up. Forensic experts were immediately summoned to the scene to collect evidence. Whilst police were still busy at the house, a phone call was received from Welkom police, indicating that they recovered Mogale's vehicle and arrested two occupants. Consequently, one of them; Phindile Vis was linked with the Ikageng murder case.

Through intensive investigation by Warrant Officer Bonita Dry, both accused admitted that they assaulted the victim with a hammer and killed him before taking his vehicle to sell it.

The accused were sentenced as follows:

1. Phindile Vis: 20 years imprisonment for murder and 10 years imprisonment for theft of motor vehicle.

2. Vuyisile Mkhalipi: 15 years imprisonment for murder and 10 years imprisonment for theft of motor vehicle.

The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the sentences handed down to the accused. He also thanked the Investigating Officer, Warrant Officer Bonita Dry (in photo) and other role players, including prosecution for securing the sentences which will ensure that ruthless criminals are removed from society.

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