Mandisa Ngcobo, Mthobisi Makhathini and Sanele Aubrey Phetha were sentenced at the Pietermaritzburg High Court to 12 terms of life and 55 years imprisonment each for the murders, attempted murders, robbery with aggravating circumstances and arson they committed in May 2023 in the KwaMpande area in the uMgungundlovu District of Pietermaritzburg.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Mandisa Ngcobo had wanted Lizwe Ngcobo (one of the complainants in the attempted murder charge) to sell drugs on his behalf but the latter refused.
“Ngcobo then acquired the assistance of Makhathini and Phetha, as well as other people. They planned to attack Lizwe at his home where he (Lizwe) sold drugs and put him out of business,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
“On May 14, 2023, the accused went to Lizwe’s house where they found other drug users smoking drugs. The accused made them undress and forced them into a small bathroom. The bathroom door was closed, and the house was set on fire. An assailant was placed outside the bathroom window, armed with a bush knife, to ensure that no one escaped.”
Eight of the deceased died on the scene while four others died in hospital, said Ms Ramkisson-Kara. Their cause of death was consistent with burns. Lizwe Ngcobo and two others survived the attack. The accused also took cash that was on the property, she added.
They were arrested after police followed up on information. In court, the state led eyewitness testimonies as well as a confession (admitted by the court) made by one of the accused. In aggravation of the sentence, the state submitted Victim Impact Statements compiled by family members of the deceased and the complainants.
The family members said they had been traumatised as some of them had rushed to the scene of the crime and had seen the state of their loved ones. The statements spoke of the kindness of the deceased and how many of them largely supported their families. The aunt of one of the deceased said, “I thank God for answering my prayers because at least justice played its role. The court of law did not fail us.”
“Each of the accused received the following sentence: 12 terms of life imprisonment for the murders, 30 years imprisonment for the attempted murders, 15 years imprisonment for the robbery with aggravating circumstances and 10 years imprisonment for arson. They will serve an effective term of life imprisonment. They were declared unfit to possess a firearm and the court further dismissed their application for leave to appeal,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
