Two found guilty of killing a policeman

Pair likely to do time for murdering a man after car hijacking

The family of slain policeman Constable Max Lekalakala welcomed the guilty verdict handed down to two men accused of his murder yesterday.

Mogobo Lekalakala, Max’s younger brother, told Sowetan that he was happy with the conviction but anxious ahead of the sentencing. “It’s been a long and sad period for us as a family but it’s good that the law has prevailed,” he said.

“He had three children. We support them to the best of our abilities but it’s sad that they are growing up without their father.”

Lucky Madiba and Mpho Mohlala were found guilty in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria of killing the 32year-old police officer who was attached to the Silverton Flying Squad. Mohlala and Madiba were also found guilty of attempted m urder after wounding Lekalakala’s two colleagues during a shootout with the police.

The pair was also found guilty of the murder of Happy Mokoena – the owner of a Toyota RunX they hijacked before the shoot-out with police. Mokoena had been abducted after Mohlala, Madiba and their accomplices – Edmond Mothwa and Solomon Mlangeni – stole his car in Emalahleni (Witbank) while he was sleeping in the back seat.

The pair was also found guilty of kidnapping.

Both men had previous convictions of possession of stolen property, house robbery and robberies. Madiba is already serving a 30-year sentence for his crimes.

The four men had earlier that week hijacked a Renault Sandero in Makapanstad, North West, which they used to travel to Emalahleni where it broke down. They then came across Mokoena, who was allegedly intoxicated and had been sleeping in his vehicle.

Handing down judgment, Judge Bert Bam said although Mohlala was not found in possession of a firearm, he was in the company of an armed and reckless gang.

“It is hard to believe that you did not know that your accomplices were armed because you had been with them for most of that night,” Bam said.

“There is no evidence that you had a firearm on you or if you fired any shots at the officers, but you were in the company of those that were in illegal possession of firearms and opened fire at the officer.”

‘ ‘ The men had earlier that week hijacked a Renault car