PORT ELIZABETH - ONE OF PE'S MOST DANGEROUS CRIMINALS CONVICTED

Thorough investigation and dedication resulted in lengthy sentences for a Port Elizabeth criminal. These convictions result in justice for the victims concerned and the community feel safer when the perpetrators are incarcerated.

In a spate of two years (2011-2013) Tulani Dikana Homsa (27 yrs) went on a rampage of committing various serious crimes in the Booysens Park area.

He was arrested in December 2013 after boarding a taxi to Mthatha.

In 2011, police received information about 4 suspicious occupants in a vehicle in Booyens Park. The vehicle was spotted and stopped. Dikana was found in possession of three firearms (.38 revolver, 9mm pistol and a7.65 pistol). He was arrested and charged for unlawful possession of firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition.

In May 2013, Dikana visited a tavern in Booysens Park. He recognised two people with whom he had a previous altercation with ten years ago. He opened fire in the tavern, fatally wounding Xolani Gqo (32 years). He then went outside, shot and killed Mbuyisile Sibobi (35 years). He returned inside the tavern and robbed the patrons of their belongings.  Police were investigating two cases of murder and 2 cases of armed robbery. He was not arrested however police were looking for him.

In December 2013, he visited another tavern in Booysens Park where he fired randomly at the patrons.  Jonas Nbowanba (49 years) was fatally wounded while another three people sustained injuries. He also robbed the patrons of their belongings. Dikana was identified through CCTV footage at the tavern. Police opened a murder, 3 cases of attempted murder and 3 cases of armed robbery..

In December 2013, an off duty police officer from SAPS Bethelsdorp recognised Dikana as he boarded a taxi to Mthatha. The police officer was in the same taxi. He immediately alerted detectives at Bethelsdorp who started acting on the information. The taxi was pulled over by SAPS Grahamstown members. Dikana was again found in possession of three firearms (9mm pistol, .38 revolver and a 7.65 revolver). He was arrested and remained in custody until the finalisation of hois cases.

Dikana was positively linked to all the cases through DNA, ballistic, photo identification and video footage.

On Tuesday, 10 May 2016, the Port Elizabeth High court sentenced Thulani Dikana as follows:

Count no 1: Unlawful possession of firearm: 4 years
Count no 2: Unlawful possession of ammunition: 3 years
Count no 3: Murder: Life imprisonment
Count no 4: Murder: Life imprisonment
Count no 5: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years
Count no 6: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years
Count no 7: Murder: Life imprisonment
Count no 8: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years
Count no 9: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years
Count no 10: Attempted murder: 5 years
Count no 11: Attempted murder: 5 years
Count no 12: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 8 years
Count no 13: Unlawful possession of firearm: 6 years
Count no 14: Unlawful possession of ammunition: 4 years
All the sentences imposed are to run concurrently with the life sentence imposed.

The cluster commander for Mount Road cluster commended the investigating team at SAPS Bethelsdorp and commented that ‘we are proud to see that hard work and dedication trumped above criminality and that our police members are working hard to ensure that criminals like Dikana are removed from our streets.’

VIA - saps.co.za