Foundation pleads for deeper investigation after five men sentenced for murder of Limpopo mayor
THE Rev Tshenuwani Farisani Foundation has urged police to further dig deeper into the brutal murder of municipal mayor, Moses Maluleke, in Limpopo two years ago.
This follows the sentencing of five men to life imprisonment for murder in the Polokwane High Court on Thursday. They are Shumani Nemadodzi (48), Avhatakali Mudau (39), Wiseman Baloyi (37), Tshianeo Munyai (32) and Pfunzo Lidzebe (33).
They were further sentenced to a total of 30 years in jail for attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearm and ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently.
Maluleke (56) was killed in 2022, shortly after his appointment as mayor of Collins Chabane municipality in Malamulela. Known for his anti-corruption stance, it was widely speculated that his murder was a hit.
Foundation’s patron, Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, said: “The foundation still believes there’s more to the case that needs to be looked into even after this verdict.
“We also patiently await the conclusion of the marathon case of the killing of activists Ronald Mani and Timothy Musetsho who protested and voiced about the VBS scandal and therefore brutally murdered separately at their homes separately in Thohoyandou in 2018.”
Maluleke was shot dead at his home in Xikundu village on 21 July 2022. His 18-year old son was also shot, but survived in what was described then as “a robbery gone wrong”.
The robbers only fled with the son’s cellphone.
In court, the accused-turned-state-witness, Nemadodzi, implicated himself and his co-accused in the murder of Maluleke. He detailed how he was recruited into the plan, and how they stormed the targeted house at night.
In mitigation of sentence, Nemadodzi’s wife pleaded with the court not to impose the life sentence on her husband as their second-born child was diagnosed with cancer and heart disease. The other accused also pleaded for leniency.
In aggravation of sentence, the state called the deceased’s wife, Rhangelani Mambre Maluleke, who told the court of the trauma the family was still suffering, and the pain the son was going through because of the bullet still lodged under his kidney.
Presiding officer, deputy judge president, Violet Semenya, ordered that all the accused be declared unfit to possess a firearm.
