FREE STATE — The Bloemfontein High Court has handed down life imprisonment sentences to two convicted contract killers, Nkwebe Seatile and Tlotlisang Monyane, for the fatal shooting of Andries Mgoqi. The landmark ruling concludes a comprehensive criminal investigation into a paid assassination spree, delivering a stern judicial warning to organized crime syndicates operating in the region.
The criminal sequence commenced on 28 January 2024 at a Bloemfontein nightclub. The duo lured a 53-year-old man outside, leading to a physical altercation near the venue’s exit. During the confrontation, one of the assailants discharged a firearm multiple times, striking the man in the face. The victim survived the attack, prompting an attempted murder investigation at the Bainsvlei Police Station. The case was subsequently escalated to the Provincial Organised Crime Unit under the supervision of Detective Sergeant Lethola Taiwe.
On 16 February 2024, the suspects executed a second, fatal attack. While 52-year-old Andries Mgoqi was speaking with an associate outside a Bergman tavern, an armed individual approached and fired multiple rounds at him. The assailant then escaped the scene in a white Mercedes-Benz getaway vehicle. Mr. Mgoqi later died from his wounds, leading to a murder docket opened at the Bloemspruit Police Station and assigned to Detective Captain Jacques Wilson.
Acting on actionable intelligence, the Mangaung Trio Task Team tracked the fugitives to a Wepener safe house, resulting in their simultaneous apprehension in the early hours of 23 February 2024. A collaborative investigative effort by Captain Wilson and Detective Sergeant Taiwe, directed by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Advocate Lucky Bontes, exposed the financial motive behind the violence. Court proceedings confirmed both men were hired hitmen who had been explicitly compensated to carry out the initial attempted murder and the subsequent assassination of Mr. Mgoqi.
During the sentencing phase, High Court Judge Van Zyl issued a strong rebuke of contract killings, asserting the judiciary’s obligation to shield the public from such calculated and callous violence. In a notable departure from standard procedure, Judge Van Zyl invited Captain Wilson to stand in the courtroom, publicly commending his exceptional dedication, sterling investigative execution, and the relentless, “never-say-die” determination of the entire law enforcement team.
The court formalized the following definitive penalties:
Nkwebe Seatile (32): Life imprisonment for murder, alongside a 10-year concurrent term for attempted murder.
Tlotlisang Monyane (34): Life imprisonment for murder, alongside a 2-year concurrent term for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).