PHALABORWA – A man accused of murdering a Limpopo doctor has been handed a life sentence in the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane.
On Wednesday, May 19, Madala Rodney Nene was handed the jail term for the murder of Phalaborwa medical doctor Basil Khoza.
“Khoza, who was 63 at the time, was brutally killed in the Phalaborwa CBD on Thursday, 25 August 2016 at about 23:00,” police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said.
He was walking from an ATM when two men approached from behind and hit him on the head using a hard object.
“He then collapsed and died at the scene. The accused robbed him of cash… and a wallet containing bank cards. His body was found… in a pool of blood,” Mojapelo said.
“The incident was reported to the police and cases of murder and robbery were opened and a manhunt for the killers ensued.”
Mojapelo said the case was later transferred to the Provincial Investigations Unit and Lazarus Mhlongo, 35, and Nene, 33, were apprehended.
Nene was found guilty of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. He was handed a 20-year sentence for robbery, as well as the life term for murder.
His co-accused died of natural causes before the conclusion of the case against him.
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the sentence.
“These heavy sentences that were handed down against the accused should send a clear message that crime does not pay,” Hadebe said.
“We take this moment to commend our detectives for their meticulous investigations that ensured that the suspects were arrested, prosecuted and one of them, ultimately incarcerated for life (sic).”
