Two Men Sentenced
By Lerato Mpembe
Benoni, Gauteng – The Pretoria High Court, sitting in Benoni, has sentenced James Veli Masuku (36) and Xolani Lawrence Dlamini (31) to 46 years each in prison for the brutal murder of Constable Prudence Masuku, a seven-months-pregnant police officer stationed at the Daveyton SAPS. The sentencing, handed down on Friday, 23 August 2024, marks the culmination of a harrowing legal battle and a rigorous investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit.
The tragic incident occurred on 23 June 2022, in Putfontein, when Constable Prudence Masuku was en route to work, accompanied by her husband, Veli Masuku. According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, Veli Masuku claimed that they were suddenly confronted by two taxis, from which armed passengers emerged and opened fire on the officer. While Veli Masuku allegedly fled to find cover, Constable Masuku was fatally shot, and her service pistol was reported missing.
Subsequent investigations, led by the Hawks, uncovered a shocking twist. Ballistic tests confirmed that Constable Masuku’s service pistol was indeed the weapon used to end her life. This discovery cast a shadow of suspicion over Veli Masuku, leading to a broader investigation that eventually implicated him and his co-accused, Xolani Lawrence Dlamini, in a calculated and premeditated crime.
The arrest of Dlamini followed swiftly after the Hawks, in collaboration with Ekurhuleni Crime Intelligence and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), acted on information about a suspect who was reportedly demanding money as payment for the murder. The revelations from this sting operation significantly strengthened the case against both men.
On 8 April 2024, after a lengthy trial, the court found both Masuku and Dlamini guilty on multiple charges. These included murder, theft of a firearm, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm, and defeating the administration of justice. Despite their initial pleas of not guilty, the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution sealed their fate.
Sentencing and Legal Implications
The sentencing breakdown was as follows:
• Count 1: Murder – 25 years of life imprisonment for each accused.
• Count 2: Theft of Firearm – 10 years imprisonment for each accused.
• Count 3: Possession of Unlicensed Firearm – 5 years imprisonment for each accused.
• Count 4: Illegal Possession of Ammunition – 2 years imprisonment for each accused.
• Count 5: Defeating the Administration of Justice – 5 years imprisonment for each accused.The court ruled that the sentences for counts 2, 3, and 4 would run concurrently with the sentence for count 1, resulting in an effective 30-year prison term for both convicts. Additionally, both Masuku and Dlamini were declared unfit to possess firearms in the future, a measure underscoring the gravity of their crimes and the threat they pose to public safety.
Reactions from Law Enforcement
The sentencing has been welcomed by law enforcement agencies, particularly the Hawks, who played a pivotal role in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Gauteng’s Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. “I commend the investigators and the prosecution team for the remarkable and meticulous work put into this case,” he stated. “This is especially true because our country is grappling with callous crimes like Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide. The sentence should act to deter like-minded individuals that justice will be served in the end.”
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