Policeman ’ s strategy brings success in muthi murder trial
Four killers sentenced to life in prison
A friendly approach to suspects always yields positive results. This is a strategy W/O Michael Khosa has adopted.
The 56-year-old cop led the investigations into a ritual murder that rocked Nsavulani village outside Giyani, Limpopo, in 2017.
Hlayisani Hlungwani, 26, went missing and her dismembered body was later found in the bushes in the village.
Three people – Christinah Mhlongo, 56, Solomon Mqengeni Mahumani, 67, and Amos Mafemani Chuma, 51, – were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Thohoyandou High Court last week for the murder of Hlungwani.
Another accused in the matter, Daniel Dzambukeri, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 after he confessed to the murder and implicated the trio.
Khosa described the case as the most difficult one to crack but attributed the sentence to his humble approach to Dzambukeri, who revealed everything to him.
When the missing person case was opened and assigned to me, I quickly looked for the personwho was last seen with her. Then I met Dzambukeri through the help of the community and he confessed on the spot,” he said.
Khosa said he did not treat Dzambukeri like a suspect but as someone who was important in helping him crack the case. “I humbly introduced myself to him and we started to chat about the deceased. After a few minutes, he said to me he was unable to sleep at night and he felt he can trust me with the information.
“He added that the person they [the community] are looking for is dead but he forgot the location and continued to paint a scary picture of how they murdered the 26-year-old. This approach works for me
because if you get aggressive, some [suspects] are very reluctant to speak.”
Khosa joined the SAPS in 1991 and became a detective in 1998 at Giyani police station. This was his first ritual murder case and he said it was difficult to link the other accused to the crime.
Khosa, an ardent Orlando Pirates supporter, said when he was not at work, he enjoys going to a local church where he prays to God and asks Him to give him strength and wisdom to solve crime.
I spend a lot of my time at work doing what I like, to catch criminals, andwhen I’m not at workIwould rather stay at home and spend time with my family. But come Sunday, I will never miss church because that’s where I draw my strength,” Khosa said.
A father of two – Ntsakelo, 11, and Junita, 4, – Khosa said he always takes his family to church. He is married to Nomia.
The dedicated sleuth said his colleagues in the Giyani cluster played a pivotal role in putting resources together to help secure a conviction.
The deceased’s uncle, Richard Hlungwani, welcomed the sentence and heaped praises on the police for working tirelessly on the case. “The police have done their best in this case and they worked very closely with local communities.
“As the Hlungwani family, we are happy that justice has been served,” he said.
He painted a scary picture of how they murdered her