Sibongiseni Ngubane and Thabani Gwala Convicte
THE North West High Court setting in Mogwase has on Wednesday, 08 October found Sibongiseni Ngubane and Thabani Gwala guilty of murdering prominent North West businessman Ben Gumbi.
They were convicted on two counts: premeditated murder, indicating a planned act, and possession of an unlawful firearm.They will be sentenced on Thursday, 09 October for the crime.
Gumbi was gunned down outside a restaurant in Rustenburg’s central business district on August 23, 2023.During the court proceedings, Ngubane claimed he was merely an Uber driver unaware of the plot, while the state argued that he was paid R15,000 for his involvement. Key evidence presented in court included CCTV footage capturing the incident, a stolen vehicle with false number plates, Ngubane’s prior convictions, and witness testimony from Gumbi’s wife who identified one of the gunmen in an ID parade.The state’s strong opposition to bail cited the seriousness of the offense, community interest, and safety concerns.With the guilty verdict, the accused face severe sentences, potentially including life imprisonment.
The court’s decision was based on careful consideration of the evidence presented, including witness testimony from Gumbi’s wife who identified one of the gunmen in an ID parade, and a police officer who testified about the unlawful firearm. The judge noted that she carefully evaluated the evidence, taking into account potential weaknesses in identification and the involvement of both accused in the crime.The case continues on Thursday for sentencing.
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