Triple killer sentenced to 170 years
A PORT Elizabeth man has been sentenced to 170 years behind bars after being found guilty of three murders and five robberies committed between 2011 and 2013.
Tulani “Homsa” Dikana, 27, of Booysen Park, was caught in 2013, trying to flee Port Elizabeth.
He was found guilty on 14 counts on Tuesday and sentenced on the same day to:
- Life for each of the three murders; ý 15 years for each of four counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and eight years on another count of robbery with aggravating circumstances;
Six, four and three years on counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition; and- Five years each on two counts of attempted murder. The sentences will run concurrently. Police spokesman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said a thorough investigation had resulted in the lengthy sentence handed down by the Port Elizabeth High Court. She called the convictions justice for the victims.
“In May [that year, he] visited a Booysen Park tavern, where he recognised two people with whom he had had an altercation 10 years before.
“He opened fire in the tavern, fatally wounding Xolani Gqo, 32, then went outside and shot Mbuyisile Sibobi, 35, dead. [Dikana] returned to the tavern and robbed the patrons,” she said.
Dikana was sought by police after the double murder, but not arrested.
In December that year, Dikana visited another tavern in Booysen Park and again shot at random. “Jonas Nbowanba, 49, was fatally wounded. “Three other people were injured, and he also robbed the patrons,” Naidu said. “Dikana was identified through CCTV footage.” Later that month, he was arrested after boarding a taxi bound for Mthatha.
“[An undercover] police officer was in the same taxi and alerted Bethelsdorp detectives. The taxi was pulled over [and] Dikana was found in possession of three firearms.”
At the time of the murders, Dikana was out on bail after being arrested in Booysen Park in 2011 for possessing three stolen firearms.
Naidu said Dikana had been linked to all the cases through DNA, ballistics, photo identification and video footage.
