Ex-Clover employees sentenced to life imprisonment for “barbaric, savage” murders
The Johannesburg High Court has sentenced former Clover employees Mohale Shokane and Vusumuzi Duumba to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of security officers Terence Tegg and JJ Cassanga. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, which represents Tegg’s fiancé Michele Bebbington and the Cassanga family, worked closely with the police and prosecutor to gather evidence, compile the docket and present the case to court. The court convicted the pair on 14 October.
In sentencing, Judge Thomas Mathunzi found that the two offenders have shown no remorse. “The attack was barbaric and savage. The death of the two who served to protect society can be equated to killing a police officer. People who protect our society are killed with relative ease. Society must be enraged and anxious that they are not safe,” he said, adding that the sentence must serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.
On 17 February 2022, a violent mob of striking Clover employees unleashed a savage attack on several guards outside the dairy producer’s facility in Olifantsfontein. While Tegg died on the day, Cassanga passed away in June that year as a result of complications from the injuries he sustained.
Distressing video footage shows how the mob of striking unionists ambushed and overwhelmed Tegg, punched and kicked him to the floor before using rocks and others items to smash his head. The attackers then robbed Tegg of his wallet, shotgun and ammunition. Cassanga was chased and overwhelmed, and his head smashed and beaten with his own shotgun.
Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, says the life sentence was appropriate, adding that it must serve as a deterrent. “Too often we see the perpetrators of mob justice and violent protesters who engage in wanton criminality going unpunished, despite there being ample video evidence documenting their misdeeds. We hope this conviction and sentence sends a message to the public that taking the law into your own hands has consequences. We also hope this convinces the police and prosecutors that when time and resources are put into such cases, convictions will follow. We applaud the hard work of police investigating officer, Captain Robert Seckle and state prosecutor, Advocate Matthews Rampyapedi,” said Bateman.
Bebbington believes justice was served. “I think they deserve it. You can’t take life and expect to have your life. I think it’s a just sentence. I’ve learnt more about the justice system than I would wish anyone would have to learn. I’ve learnt that it doesn’t always work as it should. In our case, I think we were lucky that AfriForum was involved and Captain Seckle, who did a great job. I don’t think that is always the case for everybody in these circumstances, sadly. Thank you to everybody who helped get us this far. I would never have been able to do it on my own and I can understand why,” she said.
