Three people, including two police officers, will spend years behind bars after separate cases investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) ended in lengthy prison sentences this week.

In the first case, Vereeniging SAPS Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Mokoena was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of Sibongiseni Cele.

In the second, Johannesburg Rapid Rail Unit Constable Kabelo Peace Maripane and his brother, Nape Maripane, were each sentenced to seven years for the attempted murder of two civilians in Tembisa.

Mokoena was sentenced by the Gauteng High Court sitting in Palm Ridge on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, for Cele’s murder.

According to IPID, Mokoena allegedly assaulted Cele at about 7 pm on 3 March 2024 after accusing him of breaking into his property and stealing a television set and jewellery.

Following the alleged assault, Mokoena called police to his home but did not open a case of trespassing against Cele.

Cele also declined to open an assault case against Mokoena.

Police said Cele refused to be taken to hospital for medical treatment after the incident.

The following day, 4 March 2024, Cele was found dead at his home by a friend.

Police were called to the scene, and the circumstances surrounding Cele’s death were investigated.

Mokoena was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping confirmed the sentence.

The second case relates to an incident in Tembisa in 2019 involving Constable Kabelo Peace Maripane and his brother, Nape.

The brothers were sentenced by the Tembisa Regional Court on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.

IPID said the incident happened in Makulong Section, Tembisa, during the early hours of 14 September 2019.

At about 2 am, Nape allegedly confronted three friends who were walking in the area and threatened them with a service firearm.

He allegedly fired shots towards the group before leaving.

IPID said Nape later returned to the area with his brother, Constable Kabelo Peace Maripane, and the pair allegedly opened fire on the three friends.

Two of the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds to their upper bodies and were taken to Tembisa Hospital for medical treatment.

The third friend escaped unharmed.

At the time of the incident, Constable Maripane was off duty.

The brothers were found guilty by the court on 25 May 2026.

They were each sentenced to seven years in prison for attempted murder.

The sentences bring different cases investigated by IPID to a combined 34 years of imprisonment, with the courts dealing separately with the circumstances of each matter.

In Mokoena’s case, the court’s additional order means he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The Tembisa case, meanwhile, stems from a shooting in which two civilians were wounded and a third escaped injury.

The two cases were unrelated and involved different accused persons, victims and circumstances.

IPID’s investigations resulted in the matters being placed before the courts, where the accused were convicted and sentenced.

Suping confirmed both sets of sentences on behalf of IPID.