By Kaya 959 Reporter
A taxi hitman has been sentenced for a string of assassinations. Mzila Mchazeni Simakahle (32) received two life sentences on two counts of murder.
The Thohoyandou High Court in Limpopo also sentenced him to five years for unlawful possession of a firearm. He also received two years for unlawful possession of ammunition.
In July 2018, Simakahle shot taxi owner Ndivhudza William Nethononda at his gate in Thohoyandou Block F.
The second incident happened a month later when the accused and two other men shot and killed the second taxi owner, Nthambeleni Peter Tshishonga of Maniini village, at a car wash.
NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhang says police nabbed Simakahle following a separate incident in Gauteng’s Roodeport area.
“…. he had shot a deputy taxi association member. He was traced and arrested at Protea Glen on the same day,” says NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.
Police positively linked him to the two murders in Limpopo.
Simakahle pleaded guilty on all four counts.
“In his plea explanation, he stated that he used to be hired by taxi owners to kill people. Mzila further said that he was rewarded with money which he used to take care of his partner and their child,” Malabi-Dzhangi says.
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Simakahle is not a rehabilitation candidate
Malabi-Dzhangi says Simakahle revealed how he killed several people. He would usually kill five per assignment.
“In these incidents, he was hired to kill both deceased because they were holding executive positions in the taxi association of Venda to Johannesburg Association. He was promised that he will be paid and rewarded with a Quantum taxi.
Justice Khami Makhafola remarked that the accused is a young man who makes a living by killing people out of greed.
“Judge Makhafola further agreed with the state that he is not a rehabilitation candidate, therefore Mzila is sentenced to two life imprisonment for two counts of murder, five years for unlawful possession of a firearm and two years of ammunition.”
The sentences were ordered to run concurrently with the life sentence he is currently serving for similar offences which were committed in Gauteng in 2018.
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