Courts

‘Suitcase murderers’: Mother and daughter sentenced to life in jail

A mother and daughter have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of another mother and daughter in KwaZulu-Natal.

Slindile Zamisa (43) and her daughter, Andile Zamisa (23), appeared in the Durban High Court on Thursday, where the sentences was handed down.

The mother and daughter were found guilty for the gruesome murders of Simangele Simamane and her daughter Sbongakonke Mthembu in October 2020.

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Murders

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the mother and daughter were also slapped with another eleven years in jail for kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.

“The bodies of Simangele and Sbongakonke, who were 36 and 12-years-old at the time, were found by a community member along the Lwandle Drive in KwaDabeka. They were stuffed in a suitcase with multiple injuries and strangulation marks.

“The mother and her daughter were reported missing on 5 October 2020, and a police investigation uncovered that the two were last seen at the residence of Slindile, a mere two houses away from their home. Slindile, Andile, Nomfundo Ngcobo and Lwandle Ngcobo, who was 12-year-old at the time, duly furnished police with their statements and thereafter disappeared without a trace,” Netshiunda said.

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Bodies

Netshiunda added investigations then led officers to a minibus which was used to transport the dead bodies form the original crime scene to where they were dumped.

“The owner of the minibus, Sthembiso Lamula (42), who was a boyfriend to Slindile, was consequently arrested and he pleaded guilty on two counts of accessory to the fact. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the crime.

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“The long arm of the law was also able to locate the four fugitives from their hiding spot and were brought to justice. On 25 April 2021, Nomfundo Ngcobo (23) pleaded guilty on one count of murder and was subsequently handed a 20-year prison sentence.

“The trial for the youngest culprit, 15-year-old Lwandle Ngcobo is still on going and she will be in the dock again on Monday, 22 May 2023,” he said.

Authorities applauded

The Provincial Commissioner of police in KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, applauded the investigative work done by the Provincial Crime Investigation Service (CIS).

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“Sentences of this nature will restore public trust in the justice system and we appreciate a great relationship between our investigators and the prosecutors,” he said.

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By Faizel Patel
Read more on these topics: kidnappingKwaZulu-Natal (KZN)MurderPolice