Those who severely beat a police officer were sentenced

On Wednesday, the Durban Regional Court sentenced Ndabezinhle Mvune (29), Simiso Mthimkhulu (47) and Thamsanqa Msabala (29) to 10 years in prison for attempting to murder an off-duty police officer.

On August 29, 2021, Captain Gysbert Johannes Grotius was walking along Cato Crest Road, Manzimtoti, when he saw a suspicious taxi carrying three people. He approached the taxi to ask if they needed anything.

While he was speaking to them, an argument broke out and one of the suspects hit Captain Grotius with a beer can. The Captain picked it up and threw it into the taxi.

The three suspects got down and beat him severely. One of the suspects used a metal bar to brutally beat the Captain. As a result, he suffered serious injuries including a fractured skull, brain hemorrhage, broken fingers and multiple scars on his face and body.

His wife was there when this happened, and she rushed him to a local hospital for medical attention. 

Captain Grotius was transferred to another hospital for brain surgery.

Due to the severity of his injuries, Captain Grotius was medically discharged from the Air Wing.

In April 2022, Mvune, Mthimkhulu and Msabala were arrested by members of the Hawks' Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit. They were charged in the Durban Magistrate's Court on multiple occasions and acquitted on 29 May 2025.

The three are said to be unfit to possess firearms.