A former officer of the Durban Metro Police has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for a deadly shooting on the M4 highway, which has brought both relief and sadness to those impacted by the event.Mandlenkosi Gumbi, who is 50 years old, was found guilty of killing 24-year-old Sanele Thembani and trying to kill two other people during an incident that took place in August 2023.
The shooting occurred near Durban North when a bakkie made a U-turn near a police roadblock.Evidence shown in court revealed that Gumbi shot three times at the vehicle, hitting Thembani, who was in the back seat. He later passed away from his injuries.
Witnesses stated that the passengers were not a threat at that moment.While sentencing, Magistrate Sophie Reddy condemned Gumbi for misusing his power, stating that with his many years of experience, he should have acted more carefully.
Instead, he opted for deadly force.Even though each charge could have led to 15 years, the sentences will be served concurrently, meaning Gumbi will only spend 15 years in prison. He was also deemed unfit to possess a firearm.
The court turned down requests for leniency, pointing out his lack of remorse during the trial.
Email: motshwari@onenews.co.za
