Police killer to spend a decade behind bars for slain off-duty police sergeant

A police killer will spend a decade behind bars for the murder of an off-duty police sergeant stationed at Lentegeur SAPS, in a suspected hijacking in Eerste River in September 2021.

Sergeant Andile Sirhunu was driving with two other off-duty police officials, and stopped at Hindle Road to buy food, when they were attacked by unknown armed men. Sirhunu was hijacked, shot and robbed. The official was the taken to Eersterivier hospital by his colleagues, but succumbed to injuries.

Six months later, the Hawks in the Western Cape made a breakthrough in the case and arrested three suspects. The case against one of the suspects were withdrawn, and another suspect, Lulama Mqele, will remain behind bars until his next court appearance on 31 March 2025.

Meanwhile, Mihlali Vabantu learnt his fate at the Bluedown’s Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Vabantu was convicted on a string of charges ranging from, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, possession of unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition

Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Zinzi hani, said Vabantu was sentenced as follows after he entered into a plea agreement with the state:

 

Count 1: Robbery with Aggravating Circumstances- sentenced to fifteen (15) years imprisonment  where five (5) years imprisonment is wholly suspended  for a period of five years on condition he is not convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

 

Count 2: Robbery with Aggravating Circumstances- sentenced to fifteen (15) years imprisonment  where five (5) years is wholly suspended  for a period of five years on condition he is not convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances

 

Count 3: Murder- sentenced to fifteen (15) years imprisonment  where five (5) years is wholly suspended  for a period of five years on condition he is not convicted of murder.

 

Count 4: Possession of unlicensed firearm- the accused is sentenced to a period of ten (10) years direct imprisonment.

 

Count 5: Possession of ammunition- the accused is sentenced to a period of two (2) years direct imprisonment

 

‘’The court ordered that the sentences imposed on Counts 2,3,4 and 5 to run concurrently with the sentence imposed in Count1. Effectively, Vabantu will serve ten (10) years direct imprisonment. He was further, declared unfit to possess a firearm,’’ said Hani.

 

Done by: Mitchum George