‘One Man’ to be sentenced after years on run

The high court in Johannesburg will pass sentence on a convicted criminal who escaped in December 2014 – as the court was due to sentence him for a litany of crimes he committed in Soweto during July and December 2012.

The judge at the time, who has since died, had prepared a detailed judgment.

Nicknamed “One Man”, Innocent Lungisani Mdlolo‚ who terrorised a community in Soweto during this period‚ was found guilty of murder‚ rape and armed robbery in 2014.

Mdlolo escaped from custody at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on December 2 2014, after judge John Maluleka had found him guilty of a number of crimes.

Maluleka died in August 2017‚ but he had prepared a typed judgment.

When Mdlolo appears in court again on Wednesday‚ a new judge will read the judgment prepared by Maluleka.

Mdlolo was arrested in December 2018 together with seven other people in connection with cash-in-transit heists in Katlehong and Meyerton in Gauteng.

The Hawks said Mdlolo was arrested in Duduza‚ Nigel‚ with a revolver.

In his trial before Maluleka‚ Mdlolo faced one count of murder‚ three counts of rape‚ two counts of kidnapping and 15 counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm.

He also faced 10 counts of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances‚ plus five counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The charge sheet said Mdlolo either accosted his victims in their cars‚ or broke into and entered their homes‚ pointing a firearm at them and demanding mostly money‚ cellphones and laptop computers.

“He raped his victims on three occasions and on one occasion he shot and killed a victim‚” the charge sheet read.

It said the crime spree was halted after one of the victims he had robbed of her cellphone enlisted her boyfriend to track the movements of her cellphone.

“The phone was traced to Nancefield hostel in Soweto‚ where the accused was found hiding in a ceiling.

“He was arrested and searched‚” the charge sheet read.

The cellphone belonging to the victim was found in Mdlolo’s possession. –