The Ezakheni Regional Court has sentenced Sphamandla Lucky Ndimande (28) to double life imprisonment plus an additional 35 years. Ndimande was found guilty on two counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Ndimande and an accomplice shot a man, raped two women in the bushes, took them home, held them overnight and repeatedly assaulted them. In the morning, they took them to a nearby cliff and pushed them off the edge. Unfortunately for Ndimande, all three survived.

The crimes were committed on April 20, 2024, in Ezakheni.

Man shot, women raped and thrown off a cliff

According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, a man and two women were walking together after the women had visited the man. Along the way, they encountered Ndimande and another man.

The male victim recognised Ndimande as someone from the area, while the two women did not know him.

Ndimande pulled out a gun and shot the man in both legs before robbing one of the women of her cellphone. The perpetrators left the injured man at the scene, where he was later helped by passersby and taken to a nearby hospital. Because he knew Ndimande, he was able to identify him to the authorities.

The two women were dragged into nearby bushes, where they were assaulted and raped. The women were held overnight and the following morning, they were pushed off a cliff.

The women were later found and rushed to hospital for medical treatment.

Ndimande was subsequently arrested, while his accomplice remains unknown.

Profound physical, emotional and psychological trauma

The complainants testified to the devastating and lasting emotional and physical trauma these crimes have had on their lives.

Ndimande was sentenced to life imprisonment for each of two counts of rape, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 10 years for attempted murder, and five years for each of two counts of kidnapping. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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