A 31-year-old man who shot a Western Cape traffic officer has been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment in the Thembalethu Regional Court on Friday.
The accused, Bonginkosi Ndevu, was found guilty of shooting Janneké Bergman on 7 August 2020 in Pacaltsdorp when she was assisting two of her colleagues during an arrest after they pulled over a silver Audi A4 in Beach Road.
The court heard that while officers were handcuffing Ndevu, a fight ensued during which he was able to pull out a firearm and shot Bergman in the knee and left cheek.
Ndevu fled the scene on foot with the handcuffs still around one wrist.
The bullet that hit Bergman's cheek exited through her neck, just above her shoulder.
Ndevu, from Khayelitsha in Cape Town, was arrested shortly afterwards when he was spotted walking along the highway.
He allegedly opened fire on the two police officers who chased after him. The officers returned fire, wounding him twice.
Two firearms, one of which was Bergman's service pistol, and an undisclosed amount of cash were found in his possession.
He was found guilty on all seven charges against him: two of attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms, and possession of illegal ammunition as well as pointing of a firearm and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.
