serial rapist

Serial rapist, Lucky Lehloo was sentenced by the High Court of South Africa; North West Division sitting at the Klerksdorp Regional Court.
Photo: Pexel

Hefty sentences for two Western Cape convicted murderers

The pair received two life sentences for murder, plus additional sentences of 65 years and 60 years for other crimes they committed.

serial rapist

Serial rapist, Lucky Lehloo was sentenced by the High Court of South Africa; North West Division sitting at the Klerksdorp Regional Court.
Photo: Pexel

The Cape Town High Court on Thursday handed down hefty sentences to Thando Manuel and his co-accused Nathan Erasmus.

The two were both convicted of two counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

SUSPECTS OPEN FIRE ON THREE VICTIMS

Manuel was given two life sentences for the murders and an additional 65 years imprisonment for the other crimes.

Erasmus was given two life sentences for the murders as well as an additional 60 years imprisonment for the other charges.

According to a police spokesperson, Ndakhe Gwala, on 18 March 2018, the two went to a known drug outlet in Protea Street, Kleinvlei.

The suspects posed as customers.

“After a brief verbal engagement, they opened fire on three victims, two of whom died on the scene while one sustained a gunshot wound,”

said Gwala.

The suspects fled on foot but Kleinvlei SAPS members, with the aid of the community arrested one of the suspects.

Through further investigations, the police managed to arrest the second suspect.

During the arrest, police recovered a 9mm pistol and an R5 semi-automatic rifle.

Following that, both firearms were positively linked to the scene of the crime by forensic ballistics.

“Investigations revealed that the killing was gang-related, and was a feud between different groupings of the 28 gang in the Kleinvlei and adjacent areas,”

said Gwala.

Both accused were found guilty of all the charges and were convicted and deemed unfit to possess firearms.

Both Manuel and Eramsus’ life sentences will be served concurrently.

Western Cape police management hopes the lengthy sentences will send a strong message that gangsterism will not be tolerated in their communities.

FIVE ARRESTED FOR UNLICENSED FIREARM AND AMMUNITION

Meanwhile, in Worcester police arrested five suspects between the ages of 26 and 40 for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, business robbery and possession of presumed stolen property.

Police received information about the suspects who were heading towards Worcester after they perpetrated a business robbery in Riebeeck West earlier. 

“The vehicle was stopped and searched and a firearm with ammunition, cigarettes and an undisclosed amount of cash were found in the vehicle.

The suspects appeared in the Riebeeck West Magistrate’s Court on the mentioned charges.

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