Cop killer sentenced to life in prison

Muvhuso Morgan Nyadzani was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Thohoyandou High Court last Friday for killing a police officer on duty.

Nyadzani, hailing from Makwilidza village in the Thengwe area, was arrested on 27 November 2020 on charges of kidnapping and rape. While being transported to the holding cells, he produced a sharp object and stabbed Warrant Officer Mbulaheni Ronald Mulanduli (57) in the neck multiple times, leaving him for dead.

Afterward, Nyadzani stole the deceased officer’s keys to the cells and safe, taking an undisclosed amount of cash from the safe before escaping unnoticed. The deceased was later discovered by his colleagues.

Nyadzani was already on trial on charges of housebreaking, violation of a protection order, and kidnapping.

The accused was tracked down and arrested within two days of the incident when he sought help from a traditional healer.

According to the provincial spokesperson of the SAPS, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the investigating team had successfully opposed bail until the accused was sentenced on Friday.

Nyadzani received a sentence of life imprisonment on the murder charge. Additionally, he was sentenced to 15 years in jail for robbery, 15 years for rape, five years for kidnapping, seven years for housebreaking, five years for escaping from lawful custody, and three years for violating a protection order. The court ordered that all sentences should run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment. The accused was further declared unfit to possess or own a firearm.

Col Ledwaba stated that the Limpopo police provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, had commended the members of the Hawks for their outstanding work. “She further emphasised the importance of protecting police officers, who are integral to maintaining public safety and order, and the severe consequences faced by those who choose to commit such heinous acts against them,” he said.

News - Date: 22 March 2024

Victor Mukwevho

Victor Mukwevho Ne-vumbani joined the Mirror during it's inception in 1990. He joined the SABC newsroom in 1995, and was known by  listeners as "A u fhedzisela ari". He was a news editor for The Tembisan Newspaper from 2007 to 2015. He rejoined the Limpopo Mirror newspaper in June 2022 as a freelance journalist.

Email: [email protected]