The Durban High Court on Wednesday sentenced the mastermind behind the hijacking of a Chester Butcheries meat truck, during which metro police officer Errol George Ogle was killed, to life imprisonment.
Driven by revenge after being dismissed by Chester Butcheries for participating in an illegal strike, Mlungisi Phakamani Mpanza and Mzomuhle Lawrence Gamede hijacked one of the company’s trucks on the M7 near Queensburgh on July 20, 2023. They also kidnapped the driver, Kishore Lakraj.
However, the hijacking quickly unravelled when the truck’s gears locked about 50 metres after it was taken. Carrying a meat cargo valued at R731,530, the truck came to a standstill on the M7 off-ramp, facing oncoming traffic.
Shortly afterwards, metro police officer Errol Ogle stopped his patrol vehicle near the stranded truck to investigate. Before he could get out of his vehicle, he was shot in the chest and died at the scene.
Evidence before the court showed that Mpanza, who orchestrated the robbery, intended to sell the stolen meat to another butchery.
Judge Garth Harrison sentenced Mpanza to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and three years for kidnapping. His co-accused, Gamede, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances and three years for kidnapping. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
In imposing sentence, Judge Harrison considered the personal circumstances of both men, noting that they were first offenders and had elected not to testify in mitigation of sentence.
Mpanza, 33, is unmarried, the father of three children, and the family’s breadwinner. Gamede, 41, has four children.
The judge found there were no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentences.
He stressed that courts should not depart from minimum sentences for “flimsy reasons”, adding that despite being a first offender, Mpanza had assembled a team to carry out the robbery.
“There is no reason to deviate from the minimum sentence of 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and there is no reason to deviate from the minimum sentence of three years for kidnapping,” Harrison said.
The judge further emphasised that the victim was a police officer, making life imprisonment the prescribed minimum sentence for Mpanza’s murder conviction.
Following sentencing, both men, who were implicated by Section 204 witness Vuyokuhle JamJam, indicated that they intended to appeal both their convictions and sentences.
Outside the court, Ogle’s widow, Faith, was overcome with emotion as she welcomed the sentence imposed by Judge Harrison.
Image: Nomonde Zondi
“It’s been a very long journey, and at times it felt like justice would never prevail. Today, I welcome Judge Harrison’s decision. It brings closure, and now it’s time for healing,” she said.
Faith said she and her two sons were slowly coming to terms with their loss. “There are fewer tears now, and we are starting to laugh again. Happiness is slowly returning to our home. We have finally accepted what happened.”
Commenting on Mpanza and Gamede’s intended applications for leave to appeal, Faith said she remained confident that the sentence would stand.
“Judge Harrison is very level-headed and sober-minded. I don’t think he is going to budge. I am confident,” she said.
The applications for leave to appeal are expected to be heard on Thursday morning.
