Four men sentenced for murder, rape and other counts in Bethal Regional Court
Within 72 hours, the team comprising of Bethal detectives, Bethal Vispol members, eMzinoni detectives, Secunda CIG and Bravo Security formed part of the operation which yielded positive results in the arrest of the suspects.
The Bethal Regional Court imposed a hefty sentence on Sunday Sibiya (26), Mkhanyiseni Sibusiso Ncamu (27), Jaja Lephoto (20) and Phumlani Masoka (20) on several counts ranging from murder, rape, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The four accused were sentenced on September 4.
Sibiya and Ncamu were sentenced to 15 years for murder, three life sentences imposed on three counts of rape, four years for attempted murder and four years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The court took into consideration that Lephoto and Masoka were possibly influenced by Sibiya and Ncamu and, therefore, handed them 20 years imprisonment each.
The four accused were arrested for the murder on June 17, 2022 of a 25-year-old Nigerian man, as well as the gang-rape of two women, aged 27 and 35 years. One of the rape victims was six months pregnant.
During the court proceedings, Detective Xolani Khuzwayo of Bethal General Detectives and Sergeant Palesa Tsoaelo of Secunda FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) revealed that on a fateful night the gang had an altercation with the man who then ran towards a local petrol station in Bethal.
They pursued and then stabbed him several times before they left him in a pool of blood. The victim’s girlfriend had alerted him about the “gang” planning to rape her after raping one of the women at the house where she was staying.
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Within 72 hours, the team comprising of Bethal detectives, Bethal Vispol members, eMzinoni detectives, Secunda CIG and Bravo Security formed part of the operation which yielded positive results in the arrest of the suspects.
DNA evidence presented to the court found that Sibiya and Ncamu matched the DNA found in the fluids of the rape victims.
Lephoto’s DNA matched the DNA extracted from a window sill at the scene of the crime, and also on the knife used to kill the victim.
Masoka’s DNA matched with the DNA found on a face mask and blood stains on the knife found at the crime scene. Lephoto and Masoka were still minors when they committed the crimes.
NOTE: This post has been amended as follows:
The feature photo was published of court in session. The in this photo also appeared Mr Manqoba Makhaye from Makhaye Attorneys, although he was not involved in this case.
The image was accidental and an oversight on our part. It creates the wrong impression on the readers that he was the attorney of record.
The accused persons who were found guilty were represented by Mr Ntayisi from Legal Aid South Africa.
We apologise or any inconvenience this might have caused.
We take precaution before we publish anything and that includes pictures.
