Johannesburg,South Africa

Eight Nigerian nationals which were arrested for attacking the police station and police officers in Kimberley Police Station were denied bail by the Kimberley Magistrates' Court.

According to National Prosecuting Authority,the Kimberley Magistrates' Court has denied bail to eight Nigerian nationals charged with malicious injury to property,interference with the law,assault,as well as public violence.The eight accused,Onogu Nwaemeka,Kelecho Oken,Ebot Kennedy,Chijioke Steven,Charles Aknaji,Umemba Sophuru,Amajoyi Tochukwu,and Charles OKerie Onyedikashi were arrested after they attacked the Kimberley Police Station as well as the Members of the South African Police Service.

"It is alleged that on the day of the incident,the police had arrested their countryman and they demanded that he not be apprehended by the police.Mayhem broke out as the police tried to contain the situation and the accused started to attack the police as well as damage the state's property.Specialised tactical police reinforcements were called and the eight accused were arrested.The matter has been postponed to 18 July 2024,and the accused will appear in court through the utilization of an Audio-Visual Remand System(AVR) during their next court appearance,"said Mojalefa Senokoatsane,NPA Regional Spokesperson,Northern Cape Division.

Jealous Mozambican national sentenced to life imprisonment for murder

In a separate incident,the Mozambican national has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of his girlfriend and the Contravention of the Immigration Action.

According to National Prosecuting Authority,the Breyten High Court sentenced a 35-year-old Mozambican national,to life and 6 months imprisonment for murder and Contravention of the Immigration Act.Richard Do Santos pleaded guilty to the murder of his girlfriend Chrisandra Nxumalo and was subsequently convicted of murder.The accused and the deceased were in a romantic relationship for three years and residing together in Volkrust.On 03 December 2022,the two were in a local tavern in Volkrust,when Do Santos accused Nxumalo of kissing someone and the argument became physical.The accused took a big concrete stone and assaulted Nxumalo on her head.The deceased was certified dead on the scene.During the police investigation,it transpired that the accused was in the Republic of South Africa illegally.

It appeared that the deceased left behind three minor children and her kids are now dependent to their maternal grandmother,and one of them has tried to commit suicide.

"State Advocate Amos Mtshweni addressed the court about the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide stating that the killing of women by their partners has become a far too regular occurrence and the deceased had a whole life ahead of her.The victim impact statement compiled by the deceased's mother facilitated by the Court Preparation Officer Faith Masango,where she detailed the pain and trauma caused by the accused in her family was presented.She said life has been difficult as the deceased left three minor children who are now depending on her and one of them even tried to commit suicide.The presiding Officer Judge Lindiwe Vuyeka took into consideration the accused's circumstances,the seriousness of the offence the accused is convicted of and the interest of justice.She found no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum life sentence.Do Santos was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and six months for the Contravention of the Immigration Act.The court ordered the sentence imposed on count two to run concurrent with the sentence imposed on count 1,effectively the accused will serve life imprisonment,"said Moninca Nyuswa,NPA Regional Spokesperson,Mpumalanga Division.