Ronnie Mafika Nkosi (44) was arrested for van Wyk’s murder who was 29-year-old at the time. Photo: Hawks
15 years later – man sentenced for Nelspruit businessman’s murder
The murder case a Nelspruit businessman had gone cold since the incident in 2007 until a suspect was arrested in October 2020.
Ronnie Mafika Nkosi (44) was arrested for van Wyk’s murder who was 29-year-old at the time. Photo: Hawks
The man behind the brutal murder of a Nelspruit businessman, Etienne Van Wyk, has been sentenced to twenty-five years imprisonment for murder and burglary that took place fifteen years ago in Steiltes, Nelspruit.
Ronnie Mafika Nkosi (44) was arrested for van Wyk’s murder who was 29-year-old at the time.
KILLER FINALLY SENTENCED
Van Wyk was killed 15 years ago at his Steiltes home and is reported to have been tortured and murdered.
The case remained unsolved until the police arrested a suspect in Elukwatini.
The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team arrested Nkosi on 16 October 2020, following the resuscitation of the investigation.
Consequently, Nkosi was convicted on both housebreaking and murder charges by the Nelspruit Regional Court on Monday, 6 June 2022.
“On Wednesday, 8 June 2022, the same court imposed a 25 years imprisonment sentence for murder and additional five years for housebreaking on Nkosi. The court has further declared Nkosi unfit to possess a firearm,”
said Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase.
NELSPRUIT BUSINESSMAN KILLED IN HOME INVASION
Nkosi is believed to have gained entry to Van Wyk’s Sputnik Street home by cutting a hole in the backyard fence.
According to Hawks spokesperson, Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, van Wyk’s gardener and domestic worker became suspicious when he failed to open the gate when they reported for work the next day.
Furthermore, there appeared to be multiple wounds inflicted on van Wyk’s head and body and an investigation into the crime scene also revealed that he had been strangled.
It appears Nkosi left the scene empty-handed as no valuables appeared to have been stolen at the time.
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD
Meanwhile, a 32-year-old suspect was arrested on Tuesday at Balfour for murder. The arrest was in connection with an incident where a 24-year-old woman, together with her two-year-old daughter were found dead.
Their bodies were discovered on Monday 6 June 2022, at their house in Siyathemba Informal Settlement in Balfour.
Police conducted an investigation immediately, which resulted in the arrest of the suspect.
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