CV leads to murderers sentenced

Hartbeespoortdam – Two men will spend a very long time behind bars after the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria sentenced them to life imprisonment for murder and a further 21 years for car hijacking as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The court found Amukelani Christopher Mboweni and Andrew Chauke guilty of murdering Mamba Richard Nyoko and hijacking his car in August 2016 after they had been offered a lift. Nyoko’s body was found dumped in a ditch along Dagga road near Hartbeespoortdam after police had been alerted to the discovery.

During court proceedings, it was revealed that Mboweni and Chauke were hitch-hiking in the Brits central business district (CBD) on Saturday 20 August 2016 when Nyoko offered them a lift in his car, a Nissan Tida. As they were travelling towards Skeerpoort, one of the criminals pointed a firearm at Nyoko and ordered him to stop the vehicle. Along the way, Nyoko was shot three times in the head before his body was dumped in a ditch.

Police spokesperson brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said a curriculum vitae (CV) belonging to one of Nyoko’s neighbours was found at the crime scene. He explained how this evidence enabled investigators to eventually track down and arrest Mboweni and Chauke.  

“The CV led the police to the deceased’s family in Damonsville outside Brits. Nyoko’s Nissan Tiida was also found being driven by a 35-year-old man, four days after the discovery of the body,” Mokgwabone said.

Police further established that Mboweni and Chauke had sold the car to the man. The man assisted police by identifying and pointing out Mboweni and Chauke, who were then arrested. Provincial Commissioner of police in the North West lieutenant general Sello Kwena said the hefty sentence handed out to the duo must serve as a warning to other criminals.