Bloemfontein - Two men convicted of murder were jailed for life by the Free State High Court on Thursday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
Motlatsi Namane, 29 and Thabo Mapuru, 26, were also given a further 15 years each for robbery, said provincial spokesman Phaladi Shuping in a statement.
The men, both from Lesotho, were found guilty of two counts of murder and two of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
“Mapuru was sentenced to an additional five years for unlawful possession of a firearm and three years for unlawful possession of ammunition.”
Shuping said the sentences would run concurrently with the life sentence.
In January, the two men and three others robbed a supermarket in Bloemfontein of an undisclosed amount of money.
Shuping said during the robbery, police arrived and a shoot-out ensued.
A police officer was shot dead, with the robbers taking the officer's firearm before running away.
“The police searched for the robbers and shot dead one of them. Three were arrested and one suspect evaded the police and is still on the run.”
He said one disappeared during trial and another pleaded guilty last year.
The robber that pleaded guilty was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.
Sapa