The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced Doctor Fikane Ngwenya and Sibongiseni Madondo, to life and 21 years’ imprisonment each, for the murders of a Newcastle couple.

Ngwenya and Madondo were sentenced following their conviction on charges of housebreaking with intent to steal, theft, robbery with aggravating circumstances and two counts of murder after they killed Glen (63) and Vida Rafferty (60) on their farm in Normandien in the Newcastle area.

Their co-accused, Siyabonga Macu, was killed before giving evidence in the trial.

What transpired on that day

The court found that in August 2020, the men – armed with firearms – broke into the Rafferty’s home while they were out visiting friends.

The men stole cellphones, jewellery, a laptop, a computer screen and a DVD recorder. They tried to break into the safes in the house but were unable to do so. They then decided to wait for the couple to return, with the intent of having them open the safes.

On their return, the Rafferty’s were accosted by the men and a physical confrontation ensued. Both Glen and Vida were shot multiple times and died on the scene. The men also shot the Rafferty’s pet dog. Following this, they loaded the stolen items into the Rafferty’s car and drove off. They were arrested after a month and a year, respectively.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the state, represented by senior state advocate Attie Truter, led evidence identifying them as the perpetrators.

“In aggravation of sentence, Truter led the testimony of Rafferty’s son who told the court about the day he found his parents’ bodies. He said that he worked on the farm with them but had to sell the farm following their deaths as it was too painful to live on the property.

“Ngwenya and Madondo were sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for housebreaking, 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances and life imprisonment for each of the murders. They were also declared unfit to possess a firearm.”

She said the NPA welcomes the sentence and commends the work done by the prosecution and investigation teams.

“We hope that sentences of this nature will serve as a deterrent to like-minded individuals,” she concluded.