Two South African police officers have received prison sentences for serious crimes, including murder and assault.
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Two police officers faced off with the long arm of the law this week when they were each sentenced separately for murder, attempted murder, and assault.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson, Lizzy Suping, confirmed the jail term handed down to an Eastern Cape police sergeant, who will spend 10 years behind bars for murder and attempted murder incidents that took place in June 2024 and October 2015.
“Sergeant Manelisi William Nosasa, 35, is already serving six years for murder committed in 2015, and the same Ngqeleni District Court sentenced him to four years on March 17, 2026, for murder and attempted murder committed in 2024.
“Regarding the latest incident, that happened on June 16, 2024, Nosasa took a marked police vehicle without permission and drove to Ngqeleni in the Mthatha area, where he collided with two female pedestrians. One pedestrian died at the scene and the other was hospitalised after sustaining serious injuries. Nosasa allegedly fled the scene after the incident, but was later arrested,” said Suping.
Suping said Nosasa, who was a court orderly at the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court, was also sentenced in January 2026 for beating 19-year-old Silindokuhle Bango to death in October 2015, after he accused him of stealing his television set.
Suping said the sentences will not run concurrently as per the court order.
Meanwhile, in the Western Cape earlier this week, Suping said a police captain was sentenced to six months' imprisonment or a fine of R1,000 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
“Captain Marthinus Muller, 54, was sentenced for assaulting David Kalolo, 28, on November 3, 2024. On the day of the incident, police officers from Provincial Operation Command Centre (POCC) went to Kalolo's residence to conduct a search.
“They found him with his girlfriend and manhandled them. They did not find anything, but they left the house in disarray. Kalolo decided to go to the police station to report the members of the POCC. On arrival, he saw the same members who manhandled him and his girlfriend entering the police station. He videotaped them entering the police station,” said Suping.
At the time, Muller, who was in command, saw Kalolo taking a video within the SAPS premises.
“He dragged him into his office, and assaulted him by slapping him several times. The incident was recorded on the CCTV camera in the office. Muller then pulled Kalolo outside the building, took out a knife and threatened to stab him. He forced him into the back of a police bakkie, and dropped him off at a filling station,” said Suping.
The case was reported to IPID for investigation and Muller was later charged with assault.
He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment or a fine of R1,000, and the sentence was wholly suspended, said Suping.