Though it won't bring the beloved Reggae star back, Lucky Dube's family and fans can be comforted by the lifetime sentence doled out on Tuesday to the three men who killed him in 2007.
Judge Seun Moshidi of the South Gauteng High Court, convicted Sifiso Mhlanga, 34 (the shooter), Julius Ngxowa, 32, and Mbuti Mabe, 31, on charges of murder, attempted robbery and other crimes. Hours before the verdict was announced, Mabe and Mhlanga assaulted police officers in a foiled bid to escape from the court.
The judge on Thursday also handed down 15-year jail sentences on the three for the hijack attempt, and 18-year sentences for robbing another person of his car two days later. Mabe was sentenced to 18 years for stealing the getaway car.
Thokozani Dube, who was in the car when his father was shot, broke into tears as the sentences were announced and was comforted by his mother. Later, family members and their supporters gathered outside the courthouse and sang South Africa's national anthem.
Dube, who launched his career in the 1980s with criticism of the apartheid regime, went on to become a huge international star. He recorded more than 20 albums and shared stages with the likes of Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Ziggy Marley and Sting
I was fortunate to meet him when he came to Houston for the Reggaefest and later that same year for a reschedule of the said concert. So of course it was a shock to hear that a month later he was murdered. I was so nervous to interview him, I had been told that he did not give interviews and be very prepared. But it was awesome and I am so glad that I had this moment as someone in the media field and as a fan. I am glad that these guys are in jail what makes this whole story sad yet amazing at the same time is the killers did not know who the had slain (that's the bad part-like regular people don't deserve a chance at life), and Luky Dube's life was a study in humility (that's the amazing part, he saw himself as a regular guy).
God BlessYou Lucky!
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