A police officer from Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of murder.
Constable Amanda Masiso, 34, faced justice for an incident that unfolded on the early morning of November 12, 2021, involving a violent confrontation resulting in tragic consequences.
According to Lizzy Suping, spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), Masiso was drinking with 32-year-old Thamsanqa Jamani.
"[They] were drinking alcohol at a local tavern when an argument ensued between the two at around 2am. Constable Masiso later reported that he found Jamani in a pool of blood in the street, and he took him to the hospital," said Suping.
However, the reality of the situation took a grim turn when Ipid took over the case upon suspicions that Masiso himself was responsible for the shooting.
"The investigation revealed that indeed, Jamani was shot by Constable Masiso after they had the argument. The investigation further revealed that after shooting Jamani, Constable Masiso picked up the cartridges and threw them into a pit toilet,'' added Suping.
He was charged with murder and defeating the ends of justice.
He was found guilty by the Sterkspruit Magistrates Court in the Eastern Cape.
In February, a police officer based in the Western Cape has been found guilty of murder after fatally shooting his wife's sister and injuring nine others during a children's party at his residence.
The harrowing incident occurred on October 28, 2018.
Suping said Constable Bonani Nkonzo returned to his residence during a celebratory gathering and quickly became involved in a domestic dispute with his wife.
In a fit of rage, he produced his service firearm and began shooting indiscriminately as he moved from room to room.
“He started shooting randomly while walking into each room. He fatally shot his wife's sister and injured nine others, including a minor child who was just nine years old at the time," she said.
The chaos culminated with Nkonzo's wife being shot in the head, although she remarkably survived the attack.
The shooting prompted immediate action, and Ipid was notified of the incident shortly thereafter.
Police arrested Nkonzo the same day, paving the way for a thorough investigation into the horrifying occurrences at the party.
He will be sentenced in the Western Cape High Court on March 5, 2025.