Due to threats and danger to social workers compiling a pre-sentence report for Sabelo Phewa, who killed Richmond municipal manager Sibusiso Edward Sithole, the Political Killings Task Team would step in to accompany them to Phewa’s hometown. 

The Durban High Court heard this on Thursday morning as Phewa’s sentencing was being postponed.

The High Court in Pietermaritzburg has recently convicted Phewa, from KwaNyuswa, for the murders of Sithole and Amos Ngcobo.

He was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Constable Lucky Bongani Ngema from the Tactical Response Team (TRT), and the unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition. 

On March 6, 2017, Phewa killed Sithole at his workplace while he was inside his car. He died at the scene due to gunshot wounds to the head, chest, and limbs.

On June 12, 2017, he murdered Ngcobo at KwaNyuswa and was arrested in February 2018.

As the court proceedings started, Judge Rithy Singh asked State prosecutor, Advocate Nhlanhla Shange, about the reports for pre-sentence, as she had not received them.

Shange said previously that the court had ordered a report on Phewa’s personal circumstances, adding that the State has tried to assist Phewa in obtaining the correctional services report and that of a probation officer. 

“The accused was assessed in respect of the correctional services report. That report is available,” Shange added. 

Shange stated that the social workers’ report would take four weeks to complete, as they need to conduct a forensic report, interview Phewa, his family, the families of his victims, and the community where he grew up.

He added that due to safety, the investigating officer and Lieutenant Colonel Malcom Fynn, both from the Political Killings Task Team unit, would have the social workers attend all these places. The unit investigates murders related to political violence in KwaZulu-Natal and has been recently mandated to investigate the murders of traditional leaders. 

“The State would request postponement of four weeks, so that it can be in a position to address the court,” Shange said. 

However, Judge Singh requested that the matter come back on August 21 for an update on the report. 

When Judge Singh found Phewa guilty, she said the State was able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, adding that the ballistic evidence showed that Sithole and Ngcobo were killed with the same firearm that Phewa had been caught in possession of. 

Phewa, who had fired his lawyers and represented himself, applied to have all his charges acquitted, but the court dismissed him.

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za

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