Social activist and businessman’s murderer sentenced to two life terms

The man convicted of murdering social activist and businessman, Kabelo Mukhtar Matlala and a bystander in Pretoria West has been sentenced to two life terms and six years direct imprisonment.

Pakistani businessman Muhamed Sajid Khan (44) was handed down the sentence by the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday. 

SOCIAL ACTIVIST AND A BYSTANDER SHOT DEAD

Khan was convicted of two counts of murder and attempted murder on 04 March 2022, by Judge Papi Masopa.

On 1 February 2020, six members of the Concerned Tshwane Residents (CTR) went to one of Khan’s properties in Luttig Street, Pretoria West; to verify if he indeed was the rightful owner of the said property.  

“Upon arrival, an argument arose between Khan and a member of CTR. Khan took out a gun and fatally shot him and a bystander, who also died on the scene. He also attempted to shoot another member of the CTR team,”

explained National Prosecuting Authority Pretoria regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjane.

According to the testimony of one of the witnesses, who is a member of the CTR, after the shooting incident, the members of CTR went to the police station to report the matter. 

When they arrived, they saw Khan and because of fear of what he might do, they did not enter the police station but instead went back to the scene of the shooting.

Thereafter, the police later went to the scene; it is then that they reported the matter to the police.  

Two days after the incident, Khan handed himself over to the police and was later convicted. He has been in custody since his conviction.

BUSINESSMAN SHOWED NOT REMORSE FOR HIS ACTIONS

Meanwhile, in his victim impact statement, the father of the deceased Avelo Mbewu told the court that his wife miscarried after learning about the passing of their 20-year-old son.  

“State advocate Eric Sihlangu argued that Khan showed no remorse for his actions and that the killings were premeditated because he went to the scene with an already cocked firearm,”

said Mahanjane.

Sihlangu, therefore, asked the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment with respect to the counts of murder.  

In his judgment, Judge Masopa said Khan was not justified in his action.  

He did not take the court in his confidence by testifying to his evidence and explaining why he committed the offences. He further said Khan showed no signs of being a candidate for rehabilitation.  

Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Sibongile Mzinyathi congratulated Advocate Sihlangu for representing the state well and presenting a cogent case in court. 

He also thanked Warrant Officer Sidney McCreanor and his investigating team from the SAPS Pretoria West Detective Services division for the good work that led to the conviction and this sentence.   

“We hope this sentence will send a strong message that such violent crimes will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted,”

added  Mzinyathi.

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