Harsh sentence for murderer, rapist

The Estcourt Regional Court recently sentenced Ndoda Mbatha (40) to life imprisonment plus 10 years for the murder and rape of a 26-year-old woman in the Vumbu area in September 2018.

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) explained that the deceased and a friend went out for drinks on the day in question. While they were out, they met Mbatha, who was unknown to them both, and the deceased started talking to him. She left with Mbatha and at some stage, her friend phoned her and said she wanted to go somewhere else. The deceased said she would meet her friend at an agreed location. The deceased’s phone was switched off when her friend tried to call again.

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Ramkisson-Kara further explained that, the following day, community members notified police about a body found in the bushes. The deceased’s clothes and shoes, as well as a used condom, were found nearby.

Since Mbatha had fled the area after committing the offence (and was unknown to the deceased’s friend), he could not be identified. The evidence found at the scene was sent to the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) for analysis. In May 2022, Mbatha was arrested for another offence and the buccal swabs taken from him upon arrest linked him to the rape and murder of the deceased.

Mbatha was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 10 years for rape. The court ordered that the sentences are to run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment. Furthermore, Mbatha was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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