In a chilling 24-hour crime spree, Cebo Soboyise and Zola Golela were sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murders of two brothers and an off-duty police officer in Delft. The duo were convicted following a 24-hour robbery and killing spree, which included the brutal murders of two brothers in the presence of their father, and the robbery and murder of an off-duty police officer in Delft.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that the sentences were handed down by the Western Cape Division of the High Court on April 30. Soboyise and Golela were convicted on four counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three counts of murder, and a count of illegal possession of a firearm.
Murder and Robbery Charges
The court sentenced the accused to three life sentences each for the three counts of murder, 60 years’ direct imprisonment each for the four counts of robbery with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and 15 years’ direct imprisonment for the illegal possession of a firearm. The court also declared both accused unfit to possess a firearm and ordered that the Registrar of Firearms be notified of this order.
During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them, arguing they were not present at the crime scenes, as they were engaged in other activities. However, the prosecution managed to piece together a successful case based on circumstantial evidence, including ballistic reports and cellphone-tower data.
Witness Testimony
The witnesses testified that on the afternoon of November 26, 2019, one of the two accused entered the Shoprite Liquor Store in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, and requested a cash back of R100 from two cashiers. He left, and two accused returned armed with firearms, and one forced a security guard to lie face down, while the other went to rob the two cashiers of their till drawers with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Later that evening, the State proved that three men robbed Idahoff Superette in Voortrekker Road, Bellville, of cash, cellphones, and cigarettes. They also robbed a customer of his iPhone, which was tracked and later led to the arrests of the accused. For more information on the South African justice system, visit the South African Judiciary website.
- Three life sentences for the three counts of murder
- 60 years’ direct imprisonment for the four counts of robbery with intent to cause grievous bodily harm
- 15 years’ direct imprisonment for the illegal possession of a firearm
