EFF MPL GOES TO JAIL FOR MURDER. An Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of the [North West] provincial legislature (MPL), Papiki Baboile, was sentenced to 12 and eight years after he was convicted of murder and conspiracy to murder. He was convicted for his part in the December 2012 killing of David Chika, a former ANC regional secretary for the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district. Baboile is also a former [North West] provincial chairperson of the ANC who was respected by members of the party for his leadership style. Chika died just two days before the Mangaung conference when ANC divisions had some factions pushing for Jacob Zuma as president while others wanted Kgalema Motlanthe. Baboile denied any wrongdoing and involvement in Chika’s death but the North Gauteng High Court in Stilfontein, Klerksdorp, handed him a sentence for conspiracy to murder and murder. He will serve 15 years. This brought an end to a trial that started in October last year and became one of the biggest and most talked about in the province. It was also characterised by protests from members of the ANC and family of the dead Chika. The other five men convicted with him received life imprisonment. Former local government MEC, China Dodovu, was discharged for lack of evidence. Jeffrey Letuka, William Malefo and Happy Kadi each received life imprisonment for murder and eight years for conspiracy to murder. Hit man Sehlangu Sikhakhane was sentenced to a life term in jail. The sixth accused, Joseph Maolebatsi, received 15 years on the main charge and eight years for conspiracy to murder. [North West] Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Zukiswa Mbombo welcomed the conviction and sentences. She said: “We would like to commend the criminal justice system team members who were involved in the case for ensuring that the accused got hefty sentences. This will send a clear message that crime does not pay and that the police will not hesitate to deal with any person who transgresses the law.” However, indications are that the accused seek to challenge their convictions and subsequent sentences. The [North West] provincial legislature was cautious in its comments on Baboile’s fate. Spokesperson in the provincial legislature speaker’s office Tebogo Chaane said Baboile remained an MPL until the court processes were finished. “The speaker has noted developments around honourable Baboile but he will remain a member of the legislature because the matter is still before the courts. We will wait for all court processes to be exhausted before we comment,” Chaane said. Several attempts to get comments from the EFF and the ANC proved fruitless. Chika was shot and killed at his home in Alabama township in Klerksdorp on December 14, 2012 on the eve of the ANC Mangaung conference. [email protected]
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 05:17:55 +0000
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