After three years, the family of a Metro Police officer who was mercilessly killed in the line of duty have finally seen justice served, as the man responsible for his murder was sentenced to life imprisonment.

On Wednesday, the KwaZulu-Natal Local Division of the High Court sitting in Durban sentenced Phakamani Mpanza (36) to life imprisonment for the murder of Superintendent Errol Ogle (52).

Ogle of Wentworth was based at the Queensburgh Metro Police station and had been under the employ of the municipality since 1999.

Mpanza’s co-accused, Mzomuhle Gamede (45), was sentenced to 18 years for robbery and kidnapping.

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Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo, said, “On July 20, 2023, Superintendent Ogle was shot and killed by Mpanza and his accomplices on the M7 route near the Hans Dettman off-ramp when he tried to stop the truck that was driving on the oncoming lane. The accused robbed him of his service pistol and drove off in his marked Durban Metro VW Polo, which was later found abandoned in Pinetown. Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck was hijacked by the accused and the driver was kept inside. When the shooting incident occurred, the driver managed to escape unharmed.”

Regional spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said that the accused approached Ogle and fired several shots at his vehicle.

“He sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene,” she said.

Mpanza and Gamede were subsequently arrested and prosecuted. Cases of murder and hijacking were reported at the Pinetown police station, and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks members from Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation.

Lt Col Mhlongo added, “Officers worked together with the Durban Metro Police and three accused were arrested within 72 hours. The three accused were charged for murder, armed robbery, hijacking and kidnapping. They appeared in court several times, and their bail application was successfully opposed. One of the accused was acquitted, and the remaining two were found guilty this year. Mpanza was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years imprisonment for robbery and three years imprisonment for kidnapping. Gamede was only sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for robbery and three years imprisonment for kidnapping.”

The KwaZulu-Natal acting provincial head, Brigadier Zenobia Mulligan, welcomed the sentence and applauded the officers for the good work, which led to the conviction.

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“Police killing will never be tolerated in this country, and Hawks members will always ensure that those responsible are brought to book,” she said.

Ramkisson-Kara assured that the NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and pursuing justice without fear, favour, or prejudice.

“We will continue to safeguard the rights and dignity of all members of society and trust that this outcome will provide some measure of comfort and closure to the family of the victim,” she concluded.