The North West High Court sitting in Mogwase has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the murder of Rustenburg businessman Ben Gumbi, who was shot and killed outside a coffee shop in August 2023. The convicted men, Sibongiseni Ngubane and Thabani Gwala, were also handed additional 15-year prison terms for possession of an unlicensed firearm. The court ruled that the sentences would run concurrently.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the two men pleaded not guilty but were convicted based on overwhelming evidence presented by the state. NPA spokesperson Sivenathi Gunya confirmed that the verdict followed months of thorough investigation and the presentation of strong forensic evidence.
Gunya explained that on the day of the murder, Gumbi and his wife had stopped at a local coffee shop in Rustenburg. While Gumbi went inside to place an order, his wife remained in their locked car. As Gumbi stepped outside to take a phone call, a vehicle suddenly pulled up, and two armed men got out and opened fire. Gumbi was shot multiple times and died at the scene before the suspects fled
Police investigations revealed that the shooters abandoned their getaway car shortly after the murder and switched to another vehicle to evade capture. However, surveillance footage from the coffee shop and fingerprints recovered from the abandoned vehicle linked Ngubane and Gwala to the crime. Both men were arrested between September and December 2023.
During the sentencing proceedings, Advocate Dibuseng Ntsala, who led the prosecution, told the court that violent crime in South Africa had reached alarming levels, leaving many families devastated. She described the attack as “extremely brutal and cold-blooded,” noting that Gumbi was killed in full public view without any regard for human life. Ntsala urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment to reflect the seriousness of the crime.
The court agreed with the prosecution’s argument, emphasizing that the murder was a deliberate and calculated act. Judge Thabang Molefe stated that such acts of violence undermine public safety and must be met with severe punishment. Both men received life sentences for murder and 15 years each for illegal possession of firearms.
Gumbi’s murder occurred just 18 days after he and his business partners had begun legal proceedings to evict illegal occupants from a 354-hectare piece of land near Sun City Resort, where they planned to develop a R3.2 billion smart city project. This led to speculation that his killing may have been linked to the land dispute, though authorities have not confirmed a motive.
Reacting to the judgment, Dr. Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, welcomed the outcome, saying it sends a strong message to those involved in violent crime. “The sentence demonstrates our commitment to ensuring justice for victims and holding perpetrators accountable,” she said.
The ruling has been hailed as a victory for justice, offering some comfort to Gumbi’s family and the broader Rustenburg community still reeling from the loss of a respected businessman.
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