UJ student sentenced to 15 years for killing flatmate

A University of Johannesburg (UJ) student has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for stabbing and bludgeoning his flatmate to death with a hammer, reports Roodepoort Record.

Siphamandla Gamede’s sentence was handed down in the Gauteng High Court on Tuesday by Judge Mohamed Ismail.

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The 15-year sentence is for murder. Gamede received an additional two-year sentence for attempting to obstruct the ends of justice. He pleaded guilty to both charges.

Gamede brutally killed Nkosinathi Ngema at Cherry Manor, a residential complex in Roodepoort, in January. He has been in custody since the day of his arrest on January 10 2019.

According to a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Gamede, who has a Bachelor of Mathematics degree, had been living with Ngema and Ngema’s brother in the same flat.

NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said: “At the time of the incident, the brother went to his place of work, leaving behind the deceased and the accused who were still sleeping in their respective rooms. Later that day, the accused hit the deceased with a hammer and then stabbed him several times with a knife. He died on the scene.”

The statement stated that when the brother returned from work, he was shocked to find blood inside the flat, and it is said that Gamede lied that Ngema had been a victim of robbery.

“The prosecution called the mother and brother of the deceased in aggravation of the sentence. They both testified as to how the death had negatively impacted their lives, the brother having resigned from his workplace because he could not cope with the trauma he experienced,” said Mjonondwane.

During the sentencing, Judge Ismail said the precondition for the court to deviate from the prescribed sentence was that there must be compelling circumstances to permit the court to give the accused a fairly ordained sentence.

“The mitigating factors, in this case, are that you have no previous convictions, and you also pleaded guilty,” Ismael said.

The NPA concluded by saying, “The killing of innocent human beings has reached an unprecedented level in the country. We condemn such inhumane deeds and will continue to advocate for the right of life.”

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