ANC politician and businessman Gladwin “Parks” Khaiyane’s killers were on Thursday sentenced to life in prison by the high court in Pretoria.
Khaiyane was gunned down while driving along the R59 in Meyerton in the Vaal with his girlfriend about nine years ago. They had experienced a breakdown at the time of the offence.
Lumka Mahanjana, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, said the girlfriend was also raped on the bushes next to the road shortly after Khaiyane was murdered.
Bongani Enoch Masilela, 31, and Tau David Mokhali, 33, were slapped with one life term each for robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder.
Mahanjana said Masilela was further sentenced to 43 years in jail for rape and possession of unlawful firearm and ammunition.
“The judge ordered that the sentence run with that of life, and they are declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Mahanjana.
“On December 13 2013, the deceased and his girlfriend were driving to Johannesburg when they had a car breakdown on the R59 in Meyerton. While the deceased and a friend who had come to assist them were busy fixing the car, two men and their three co-accused, who were acquitted in the matter, appeared [from nowhere] and demanded that they lie down. They also fired shots at them.
“The deceased was shot and died on the scene. The men proceeded to rob the girlfriend, the deceased, and his friend of their belongings. Among other things that were taken was a vehicle, Hyundai H100, which was later recovered close to Masilela’s house at Sicelo in Meyerton.
“After the robbery, Masilela dragged the girlfriend to the nearby bushes where he raped her.”
The duo, who initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, was arrested in their homes on December 20 2013 and has since been in custody.
“In aggravation of sentence, advocate Jeffery Nethononda asked for life imprisonment. He told the court that the rate of murders in South Africa is escalating, therefore the court needed to send a strong message.
“In her judgment, acting judge Mokgale agreed with the state and said the accused committed a serious crime, showed no remorse, and therefore the sentence was appropriate,” said Mahanjana.
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