A Delft man will spend all his life in jail after he shot and killed a police officer in 2019.
On Wednesday 30 November, Western Cape High sentenced Mzuhleli Tshanda(30) to life in jail for his brazen attack that took Constable Songezo Khethiwe’s life.
The court found Tshanda guilty of murder, three counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and for possession of ammunition without a license.
On the fateful day, Khethiwe was on a patrol with two other officers when they saw two people, a male and a female walking into Spekboom street in Delft.
When officers approached them, Tshanda pulled out a firearm from his pocket before firing shots at the officers.
Khethiwe sustained gunshot wounds in his right arm and below his armpit. Another was also injured during the shooting, but the third officer survived unscathed.
The suspect managed to flee but he bumped into other cops who were patrolling on the other street, and he fired shots at them as well.
“A chase ensued, and the suspect started shooting at the police. The police ordered the suspect to surrender, however, the suspect resorted to firing at the police. An exchange of fire followed, resulting in the police wounding and apprehending the suspect. Preliminary investigation revealed that the recovered firearm was the same firearm that shot and killed Constable Khethiwe and injured the second member,” said Hawks spokesman Zinzi Hani.
