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Bossie’s killer sent to jail for 30 years
BOMBELA – Justice has finally been served in the murder case of Mr Bossie Bezuidenhout. He was killed at Shandon Estate in 2010 and his murder inspired local businessman, Mr Rupert Taljaard, to establish Bossies Community Justice in order to fight crime in the city and ensure the successful prosecution of criminals.
Godfrey Shabangu was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment in the Eastern Circuit High Court on Wednesday. He will not be eligible for parole. He pleaded guilty to this and other crimes he was charged with after his arrest in 2012.
Bezuidenhout (44) was shot in his home in Shandon Estate on January 30, 2010. The murder shocked the community and left his wife, Karen widowed with two children (then aged 11 and 5). Bossie’s Community Justice was established in honour of this man who many described as a sociable, hard-working go-getter.
In 2009, Bezuidenhout bought an engineering shop in Mbombela. He, Karen and their two children moved to the city from Pretoria in June that year.
In her affidavit about the incident, Karen explained that they chose a home in Shandon as it was reputed to be safe.
This is where Bossie was shot dead the very same day they moved in.
“We were busy unpacking all our boxes when Bossie went downstairs to go and check up on our son. Three black attackers confronted him. They entered the house through a window in our daughter’s room.”
Shabangu shot Bossie in the neck, grabbed their son’s cellphone and ran off. He was arrested two years later. The now-retired Col Anton Crafford lifted the single fingerprint at the scene which linked Shabangu to the crime. Crafford was the head of Middelburg SAPS’ crime-scene processing team.
Shabangu was charged with various other robberies during the trial. He broke into and stole from the houses of Mr Marcus Masango in 2007, Mr Jan Frederik Rykers van Rooyen in 2008 and Mr RC Diederiks in 2012.
On Wednesday, he was found guilty of these crimes, as well as of the Bezuidenhout housebreaking and murder.
Judge Mr Peter Mabuse said that although a 30-year sentence may punish and prevent crime, it cannot bring back Bossie, who is missed by friends and family every day.
He referred to Karen’s statement which relayed the trauma they suffered as a result of Shabangu’s heinous deed.
“The children and I saw my husband lying in a pool of blood after he was shot. My son screamed for his dad to wake up and asked us to help his dad breathe,” she recalled. Their attempts to resuscitate him failed. He died on Karen’s lap.
“My son ran to the neighbours to call for help, my five-year-old daughter just stood in the corner of the room and watched her dad dying,” she said.
For the next two years the children had to undergo therapy, but the financial consequences of Bezuidenhout’s murder made it impossible to keep up with this expense. Karen and the children had to move back to Pretoria and now live with her sister, who provides for them.
“Our society appals crime, they hate crime so much that many citizens have started to help the community to prevent crime out of their own accord,” he said. “The vocabulary of our court to describe the acts of barbaric criminals has been exhausted, yet the violence has stayed unabated,”
said Mabuse.
He pointed out that the accused was a first offender when he was sentenced and that he had shown remorse for his actions. Had it not been for these factors, he may have been imprisoned for longer.
Mr Jacques Meiring, Bossies Justice’s operational manager, said that they were elated with the outcome of the case.
“We thank the police, the investigators were thorough in their investigation and continued to keep their fingers on the pulse, ensuring that the investigations were airtight,” he said.
Meiring added that the public’s support was needed and appreciated by the non-profit organisation. “Bossie’s Community Justice depends on financing from our community. These funds are applied towards combating crime in the Lowveld.” Founding member Mr Rupert Taljaard thanked the community for their assistance in establishing BCJ.
“Our crime-fighting succeses were made possible by you,” he said.
Karen’s comment on the sentence was provided to Lowvelder: “The fact that Shabangu will spend 30 years behind bars is great news. We know that nothing will ever bring Bossie back, but knowing that his killer will be locked up for a long time, gives us closure. We are glad that he will be removed from society for 30 years. This means that there is one criminal less on our streets. Bossie would have been so proud of Bossie’s Community Justice and the good work that they do in Nelspruit. We are thankful towards the SAPS and BCJ for all their efforts in solving this case.” http://lowvelder.co.za/291056/bossies-killer-sent-to-jail-for-30-years/
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