Former Clover employees convicted of murdering security guards

Two former Clover employees have been sentenced to two life sentences each for the murder of two security guards during an industrial protest.

They were sentenced to a further six years in prison with their sentences on Monday in the Johannesburg High Court.

Clover workers murder guards during strike

Mohale Cleta Shokane, 34, and Vusimuzi Makula Duuba, 38, were found guilty of murdering Terence Tegg and Joao Jesus Cassanga.

They were also guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and intentional damage to property.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the incident occurred during an industrial protest by Clover South Africa employees on February 17, 2022.

Protesters were being bused to lodge a memorandum of grievances at Clover’s headquarters in Boksburg when a stone was thrown from one of the buses, damaging the windshield of a security vehicle.

The protest quickly escalated, culminating in the brutal stoning of the two security guards.

The evidence presented by the investigating officer, Captain Robert Seckle, proved crucial in the trial.

Key video footage from nearby factories, as well as witness accounts, identified Shokane and Duuba as participants in the attack.

Although the defendants maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings, lead counsel Matthews Rampyapedi successfully argued for the admission of the video evidence and admission statements, which led to their conviction.

Former Clover employees show no remorse for murder

During the sentencing phase, Rampyapedi emphasized the gruesome nature of the killings, stating that the brutality of the killings far exceeded any mitigating circumstances presented by the defense.

Both victims were stoned to death in a merciless act of violence. The court agreed, calling the defendants’ actions “barbaric and completely unnecessary” and noted their lack of remorse.

In handing down this sentence, the court emphasized the importance of deterring similar acts of violence and the need to protect human life.

“This verdict is a stark reminder that acts of violence, particularly those committed in the context of protests, will not be tolerated,” Mjonondwane said.

“The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and their families. »