Welkom Magistrate Court sentence two foreigners to life imprisonment for armed robbery, gruesome murder

Two foreigners were convicted by the Welkom Magistrate Court on Thursday, 12 May for the brutal murder of the late Neil Horrocks, who was robbed at a gunpoint, strangled with a wire and shot in his chest.

The two accused were sentenced heavily by the court after being found guilty for the gruesome murder, armed robbery, being in possession of an illegal fire arm and for not having legal documents to be in the country.

In November 2019, Horrocks (39) was walking from Mannys to his residence in Flamingo Park, Welkom, when he was confronted by two foreigners living in the bush behind Unitas High School in Welkom.

It is alleged that when he tried to fight back, he was shot in his chest and strangled with a wire and left at the scene tied up with the wire.

His cellphone, jewellery and cash were robbed.

“The two suspect left and went to a tavern in the Welkom CBD and when they came back, the two were with other people,” Lejweleputswa region spokesperson captain Stephen Thakeng said.

“They were drinking in public and were picked up by SAPS members of Welkom to the police station to be given summons.

“Then the accused number two, aged 34-years-old called one of the SAPS member aside and related to him about the robbery and fatal shooting of a white man in the bush,” he explained further.

“The scene was visited and the body of the Horrocks was found tied up with a wire and was certified dead by Medical Personnel Services,” stated Thakeng.

Thakeng said the police discovered and confiscated firearm and ammunitions, stolen cellphone and jewellery.

The two suspects Mpotla Michael Mkwanazi (35) and John Teboho Nolwana (34) were arrested and found guilty as charged for robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of unlicensed firearm, ammunitions, murder and illegal immigration.

The two accused were sentence as follows by the Welkom High Court.

Accused number 1 Mkwanazi :

Count 1. Robbery with Aggravating Circumstances : Life Sentence
Count 2. Possession of unlicensed firearm : 5 years in jail
Count 3. Possession of unlicensed Ammunition : 5 years in jail
Count 4. Murder : Life Sentence
Count 5. Illegal Immigration : one year in jail

Second Accused Nolwane :

Count 1. Robbery Aggravating : 15 years in jail
Count 2. Possession of firearm : 5 years in jail
Count 3. Possession of Ammunition : 5 years in jail
Count 4. Murder : 15 years in jail
Count 5. Illegal immigration : 2 years in jail.

They were also both declared unfit to possess a firearm.

“The provincial commissioner of the Free State, General Baile Motswenyane praised the arresting officers Warrant Officer Oss, the late Constable Manyathela, Constable Marman and the investigator Sergeant Tsie Matlokotsi for conducting a thorough investigation which led to this heavy conviction of these foreigners,” concluded Thakeng.