The man who stabbed and killed an off duty police officer was sentenced to 25-years in jail. Mduduzi Ndawonde (34) from Madadeni in Newcastle was found guilty by the Madadeni Magistrate's Court in KwaZulu-Natal and sentenced to 25-years for killing a police officer, Sergeant Sandile Mgabhi (39).

STABBING OF POLICE OFFICER

During the time of the murder, Mgabhi was off duty and sitting with his friends when a quarrel between him and his friend, Ndawonde, broke out. Ndawonde accused Mgabhi of stealing his licensed firearm. KZN Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said that Ndawonde and his brother, Muziwezinsizwa Ndawonde (43) forcefully took Mgabhi to an unknown place. "Mgabhi's vehicle was found at the service station with blood stains. Two days later, Mgabhi's lifeless body was found with a stab wound on his chest. A case of murder was reported at Colenso police station and a case docket was allocated to the Hawks from Pietermaritzburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation.

WITNESS PROTECTION 

"Few days later Mududuzi and Muziwezinsizwa were arrested and charged for murder as well as kidnapping. They appeared in court several times and Muziwezinsizwa opted to become a state witness. He was released in custody and placed under witness protection," he said. Mhlongo said that the case was transferred to Madadeni High Court for trial and on Thursday, Mduduzi was sentenced to 25 years direct imprisonment for murder. Mduduzi was further sentenced to seven years imprisonment for kidnapping and his sentence will run concurrently. The court also fined him R10 000.00 for the loss of firearm and failure to report the lost firearm.