"When they are caught this is what they are going to face.

"There are good loyal citizens in this country who deserve to live freely in our democratic country. Our loyal citizens should not be held to ransom by these criminals," chairperson Kgoshi Mokoena said.

He congratulated Judge Seun Moshidi for not showing mercy in sentencing the three men in the High Court in Johannesburg earlier on Thursday.

"I wish to congratulate Judge Moshidi for not showing mercy to these heinous criminals who took away South Africa's music icon in Lucky Dube," Mokoena said.

Moshidi sentenced Sifiso Mhlanga (34) Julius Gxowa (32) and Mbuti Mabe (31) to life imprisonment for Dube's murder, and a further 15 years each for the attempted robbery of Dube's car on 18 October 2007.

The judge sentenced the trio to a further 18 years each for the hijacking of a black Mercedes Benz two days after Dube's murder.

Mabe got an additional 18 years for hijacking a VW Polo used as a getaway car following Dube's murder.

Moshidi also sentenced Mhlanga and Gxowa to five years each for possessing an unlicensed firearm, saying Mabe was lucky to have not been convicted for common purpose on this charge.

Mhlanga got an additional two years for illegally possessing ammunition.

"The accused showed no mercy to the deceased so it's difficult for this court to show mercy to them in this sentencing.

"The deceased was shot in front of his children after performing a gesture any other loving father would do by taking his children out for dinner," Moshidi said in sentencing the men.

He also ordered that the trio be declared unfit to possess firearms.

Sapa

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