Nkutha family welcomes Shongwe’s 9 life sentences in Secunda Regional Court
Rato Nkutha’s father, Bongani Nkutha, told the Ridge Times that although Shongwe’s sentencing would not bring back Rato and Nokulunga, the family found some form of closure.
The Nkutha family welcomed the nine life sentences of Themba Shongwe, the convicted serial killer and rapist of four young girls from eMbalenhle.
Shongwe, described as a serial rapist and killer, operated in eMbalenhle’s Ext 17 between 2016 and 2018.
He was convicted and sentenced to nine life imprisonment terms on December 18 for the rape and murder of Nokulunga Nkutha (11) on August 12, 2016, her cousin Rato Nkutha (11) on May 7, 2018, Cynthia Masilela (16) on June 28, 2017, and Mihle Zingamo (14) on November 7, 2018.
Their families discovered the children’s dumped bodies in the street in Ext 17 near Shongwe’s house in eMbalenhle.
Rato Nkutha’s father, Bongani Nkutha, told the Ridge Times that although Shongwe’s sentencing would not bring back Rato and Nokulunga, the family found some form of closure.
“We are pleased justice was served for both of our children because we lost two of our children in Shongwe’s hands. We have heard so many things during the trial that we did not know had happened before our children’s murders.
“We thank the Secunda Regional Court magistrate Graham Cupido, and his two independent accessors, Thomas Mazibuko and Nongoloza Masina, for ensuring that Shongwe received a fair trial.
“Not forgetting the prosecutor, Advocate Tracy Keen-Horak, and the investigating officer, Sergeant Hezekiel Malapela, who also worked hard since the beginning of the trial to ensure the families get justice for our children,” said Nkutha.
Solly Galela, one of the community leaders in Ext 17, said the community supported the families from the first incident when Rato Nkutha was reported missing and her body dumped near Shongwe’s home.
“We are happy that families got justice for their children, although the trial took five years since Shongwe’s arrest. We never gave up and made sure the court gallery was always full.
“The judgement is a lesson to those thinking of committing a similar crime, not to try,” said Galela.
He said the community now wished for the arrest of those who steal and murder toddlers in Ext 16, referring to the abductions and murders of Thingo Mahlangu (4) and Khayone Pakeni (2) last year.
“We want Sergeant Malapela to assist in these cases – not that we undermine other investigators, but we saw his work throughout the Shongwe case. He worked tirelessly to ensure that justice was served, and we believe he can bring the killer or killers of the toddlers to book,” said Galela.
“After all the dockets were assigned to Malapela, he called for an Ext 17 imbizo to notify the community that he was taking over as the investigating officer assigned to all four cases of the murdered girls. That was when Shongwe was arrested and charged with rape and murder of the girls.”.
As the trial continued, many witnesses were called to testify, including doctors, police, science laboratory expects and families.
Even when DNA linked Shongwe to the crimes, he still disputed it.
He wanted to see the DNA report and the specific sample that linked him to the crimes, claiming that computers and papers are manmade and programmed by humans and can thus be manipulated.
