Two men linked to the murder of Dr Michael Isabelle during a robbery at his Dobsonville, Soweto, general practice in 2024 have been sentenced to lengthy terms by the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg), reports TimesLIVE.
Gordon Matwetwe Muningi, (52), and Rufus Tebogo Thutloa (47) were convicted of the murder, as well as of robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition; and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice.
The sentences ranged from life imprisonment to 20 years, 15 years and two years for the various charges. An accomplice, Thamsanqa Mathebula, was shot and killed during the robbery.
The men had targeted the surgery while the doctor was consulting patients, and during the attack, stole a bag, a licensed gun and laptop belonging to the doctor, a cellphone and vehicle belonging to the receptionist, and a phone belonging to another employee.
The court found the pair had failed to show genuine remorse, and only sought mercy after they had been convicted
During sentencing proceedings, the men, both of whom had previous convictions, pleaded for leniency, claiming they had not foreseen that anyone would lose their life during the robbery.
In another case, one of five men arrested for the fatal stabbing of student doctor Mthunzi Zwane has been sentenced to life behind bars murder and an additional 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances by an Mpumalanga court, reports TimesLIVE.
Zwane (27) was murdered in July 2022 and his body tossed into a river in Nhlazatshe, Mpumalanga.
The University of the Free State said Zwane had studied medicine in Cuba as part of the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Medical Programme. In August 2021, he was placed at the UFS to complete his clinical training in South Africa. From January 2022 he had been doing clinical training as a final-year student at Dihlabeng Hospital in Bethlehem.
He lived in Elukwatini but was home for the holidays at the time of the tragedy.
National Prosecuting Authority provincial spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said Zwane had visited the Stars Local Tavern in Elukwatini, where he was spotted by a group of men. When he left, they followed him.
They attacked and repeatedly stabbed him while demanding his bank card and PIN, which he handed over, and when the group realised he was no longer breathing, they pushed his body into the river.
They returned to the tavern and continued to use Zwane’s bank card to to buy drinks until the transaction limit was reached, after which they threw it away.
During the trial Clement Nhlabathi ( 23) pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. His co-accused, aged 22 to 24, pleaded not guilty. Their trial will resume on 29 September.
TimesLIVE – Student doctor killed for alcohol money: one attacker jailed
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Murdered Dobsonville GP had been attacked before
Communities mourn murdered medics
Healthcare workers and patients under siege as extortion gangs target clinics