TWO men, Siphamandla Shamata Sithole (32) and Bonokwakhe Shabane (38), were each sentenced to life for murder and 10 years’ imprisonment for attempted murder in the Ixopo Regional Court last week for the attack on an elderly couple in the St Faiths area in September 2013.
Zamokwakhe Ngcobo (68) and his wife, Busisiwe Ngcobo (68) were asleep in their home when the men broke down the door at around midnight. They hacked Mr Ngcobo with a sharp object, slicing half his wrist off and then went to Mrs Ngcobo and chopped her until she died.
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The intruders fled when they heard the couple’s children coming to the room.
In court, acting senior public prosecutor, Advocate Innocent Sikhakhane, led the testimonies of Mr Ngcobo and his son.
Both of them told the court that they had identified the men, as they knew them. One was their neighbour and the other owned a shop in the area.
While the defense brought up an argument that it was dark when the offence occurred, the witnesses remained credible and even told the court that they had heard both the accused allege that Mrs Ngcobo practised witchcraft, as she owned a baboon and bees.
A victim impact statement compiled by Mr Ngcobo and facilitated by court preparation officer, Maureen Xaba, was submitted to the court in aggravation of sentence.
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