Former SAPS officer Sipho Mlekeleli was sentenced to eight years in prison for shooting a patron after a snooker game dispute at a shebeen in Ixopo.
Key Points:
- A SAPS officer received an eight-year prison sentence for attempted murder.
- The incident occurred at a shebeen in Ixopo after a snooker game dispute.
- The NPA remains committed to justice for victims of crime.
Sipho Mlekeleli, a former South African Police Service (SAPS) officer, received an eight-year prison sentence for attempted murder. The Scottburgh Regional Court handed down the sentence after Mlekeleli, who was a sergeant at the time, shot a patron, Sthembele Tobias Nxele, in April 2019.
The Incident at the Shebeen
The altercation started after Mlekeleli lost two snooker games. He became upset when other patrons laughed at him. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KwaZulu-Natal, Mlekeleli angrily left the shebeen. Nxele then saw Mlekeleli cocking his state-issued firearm.
Nxele immediately warned the others in the shebeen, shouting that Mlekeleli was about to shoot. Patrons quickly took cover. Despite their efforts, Mlekeleli fired five to eight shots in their direction. Two of those shots struck Nxele. One bullet hit Nxele in the abdomen, and another grazed his shoulder. Nxele received treatment at a nearby hospital and was discharged the following day.
Court Proceedings and Defense Rejection
During the trial, prosecutor Akhile Gcume presented evidence from Nxele, a fellow patron, and the doctor who treated Nxele. Police officers who responded to the scene also testified. After the state presented its case, Mlekeleli’s defense requested his discharge under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act. However, the court rejected the application. Consequently, the trial continued.
NPA Welcomes the Sentence
The NPA’s spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, expressed satisfaction with the conviction. She emphasized the authority’s commitment to seeking justice for crime victims. “The NPA welcomes the successful finalization of this matter. Together with our partners in the justice cluster, we remain committed to pursuing justice on behalf of the victims of crime,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
This sentencing represents a significant step toward addressing violent actions by law enforcement personnel. It also reaffirms the commitment to upholding justice in South Africa.
