Judge puts Jeppestown killers away for life

THE sentencing of the Jeppestown massacre killers yesterday brought tears to the families of both the men in the dock and the four policemen who died two years ago.

Johannesburg High Court judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng sentenced 11 of the men to an effective 40 years in jail, plus four life sentences.

Four policemen and eight suspected robbers were killed in a shoot-out during a bloody five-hour gun battle with robbers at a house in Jeppestown, in eastern Johannesburg, on June 25 2006.

Police were ambushed after following the gang, who had robbed a Honeydew supermarket.

Eleven accused got 20 years each for the robbery at the store, 10 years each for the deaths of their fellow robbers, five years for attempted murder and five years for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Senzo Mweli, 27, who participated only in the robbery, and shot a 71-year-old shopper, was sentenced to an effective 25 years in jail .

While the men sat stony-faced in the dock, their relatives shed tears on hearing the robbers would spend most of the rest of their lives in jail.

Mokgoatlheng did not mince his words when he sentenced Mzamo Mchunu, 31, Sizwe Mbuyazi, 27, Khumbulani Mabaso, 33, Sizwe Dlamini, 21, Sihle Mdunge, 25, Muzulelwa Vezi, 28, Siyanda Mngomezulu, 26, Linda Hlongwa 24, Bekokwakhe Zulu, 30, Mhlomme Sesiba, 29 and Zinto Mcnhunu, 29.

The men's lawyers had asked during mitigation of sentence for his lenience when determining the prison terms because the men were from "disadvantaged backgrounds" and "financial constraints had prevented them from advancing their careers".

The judge said: "It is true that we come from a very painful and sore history. We come from a very painful past.

"I try to understand as a black judge why such a waste of life can happen for money.

"What this court does not understand is when people are killed randomly and cold-bloodedly. That is what I do not understand," Mokgoatlheng said.

"The barbaric criminality that happened in Jeppe; no civilised community can live with that," he said.

Policeman Gert Schoeman's brother, Fanie, also wept, but said he could not say he was happy with the sentence because the accused "took my brother away".