The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the murders of businessman Ismail Lunat and his son, Shanis Moosa Lunat, at their home in Dalton, KZN, in July last year.

Sibusiso Mpinga (32) appeared in court last Friday for judgment on his sentencing after changing his plea from not guilty to guilty earlier this week.

This came after his co-accused, Nhlanhla Gabela, testified and presented overwhelming evidence against him.

Mpinga pleaded guilty to charges of housebreaking with intent to commit robbery, two counts of murder, and one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Gabela was acquitted of all charges.

According to the indictment, on the morning of Friday, July 14, 2023, Mpinga and Gabela, armed with knives, went to the Lunat family’s home with the intent to rob them.

“Upon arrival at the home, they forced entry into the house. They encountered Shanis in the passage and stabbed him multiple times, fatally injuring him. He died on the scene.

“They proceeded to the bedroom, where Lunat was. They assaulted him with a torch, fatally wounding him. They then removed bags of money from the cupboard drawer.”

Mpinga’s lawyer argued for a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment for the murders and 15 years for the robbery, citing his youth and remorse as mitigating factors.

However, state prosecutor Advocate Zinhle Sokhela disputed this, saying Mpinga’s remorse was not genuine as he initially pleaded not guilty and only changed his plea when faced with overwhelming evidence.

Judge Nontuthuzelo Mlaba agreed and said she was not convinced Mpinga was remorseful or that there were substantial and compelling circumstances to justify deviating from the minimum sentences.

Mpinga was sentenced to five years for housebreaking, life imprisonment for each of the murders, and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.

All sentences are to run concurrently with one life imprisonment sentence.