PARKTOWN – Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has commended the thoroughness of the team of investigators who worked tirelessly to secure the swift arrest of three suspects who on Thursday 07 November 2019, were each handed a life sentence in the Pretoria High Court.

This follows the 2018 murder of Magistrate Victor Mabunda in Bronkhorspruit.

The investigating team found that on the day he was killed on 10 January 2018, the late Magistrate Victor Mabunda was followed from his office at Cullinan Court to his home in Bronkhorspruit, by unknown suspects who shot and killed Mabunda while still in his car in the driveway at the Magistrate’s house.

Police also found that the late Magistrate was at the time presiding over a case in which one of the three accused, Thomo Michael Ngoato who was a prison warder, had been arrested for and found guilty of selling drugs to inmates. Magistrate Mabunda was murdered by the suspects before sentencing.

Two suspects were arrested within three weeks of the crime while the third suspect was arrested on 02 February 2018.

The investigating team ensured that none of the suspects were granted bail; while the case was ultimately escalated to the High Court where the trial resumed on 07 October 2019, after it had been postponed in March 2019.

Ngoato (29), Paulos Fourie (35), and Thato Surprise Maringa (40) were all found guilty of the murder of Magistrate Victor Mabunda and were each on 07 November 2019 handed a life sentence.

“In our concerted effort to reduce serious and violent crime, we in turn appreciate the delivery by our investigators, of watertight cases that ultimately ensure that perpetrators are handed long term sentences. Furthermore, in our resolve to restore public confidence in the Police, we want to encourage our investigators, particularly those still coming up in the ranks, to always strive for quality investigations,” remarked the Provincial Commissioner.

Source: South African Police Service