Everson Luhanga
The two tough guys once prowled the streets of Hillbrow – a law unto themselves – and nobody could touch them.
Or so they thought.
Two tough detectives matched strength with strength and put the two men, a karate instructor and a bouncer, as well as an accomplice, behind bars for life.
The suspects were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 10 years for attempted murder, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and eight years for contravening the Immigration Act.
This sentence was passed down after they beat Petros Ncube to death and left his brother, Fanuel Moyo, scarred for life after stabbing him with a screwdriver that was left pinned in his body.
It appears that Petros’s mistake was to ask the karate instructor for his rent money, leading to the fatal assault.
Petros died from the serious injuries he sustained during the beating but his brother survived.
The two main suspects, bouncer Bruce Ncube and karate instructor Philani Ncube, were arrested after being in hiding for a few days. Their accomplice, Justine Dube was arrested later.
Investigating officers, Detective Sergeant Gift Mashavha and Detective Sergeant Livhuwani Mikhuvha Mpofu, said they arrested the karate trainer first.
“He led us to his accomplice,” said Mashavha.
Petros’s sister, Nonhlanhla Phakathi, said when she came to her brother’s flat after the first beating, he complained that the men kicked him badly and he could be bleeding internally.
“But the following day I heard that he had been beaten again. The second beating led to his death,” she said.
Gladys Phakathi, Petros’s mother, applauded the police for arresting the bullies and sending them to jail.
She said while the case was still in court, the suspects’ families were threatening her and told her that they would bribe the police officers to throw away the case.
“But it never happened and they were sentenced.”
Hillbrow police Acting Station Commander Richard Mboweni thanked the officers for being dedicated and working tirelessly to ensure that justice prevailed.
