After a protracted trial, two KZN women were recently found guilty by the Durban High Court of kidnapping, killing, and dumping the bodies of their neighbour and her daughter.

Slindile and Andile Zamisa were found to have kidnapped, killed, and then dumped the bodies of Simangele Simamane and Sbongakonke Mthembu (12) in 2020 after they accused Simamane of using witchcraft.

They were beaten to death, and then their bodies were stuffed into a suitcase and dumped in KwaDabeka, near Pinetown.

Delivering the judgment, the Durban High Court said it found the testimonies of the state’s witnesses, Slindile’s stepdaughters, Nomfundo Ngcobo and Sthembiso Lamula, reliable, adding that there was no reason to believe they would falsely implicate the accused.

Ngcobo and Lamula were sentenced to 20 and six years, respectively, for their roles in the case.

Slindile was found guilty on all five charges, namely two counts of kidnapping and two counts of murder, as well as obstruction of the administration of justice for disposing of the body.

Andile was found guilty on four charges. The court, however, found her innocent of the murder of Sbongakonke.

Ahead of the sentencing, which is scheduled for today, Prosecutor Gugu Xulu argued the Zamisa women should be issued a harsh sentence because of the gruesome nature of the crime, the impact it has had on the victims’ families, and their supposed lack of remorse.