Long jail terms for kidnappers
Magistrate labels trio stupid and irresponsible
The two men and a woman who were charged with kidnapping a 14-month-old baby last year in Soweto have been sentenced to up to 14 years in prison.
Magistrate Audrey Mpofu labelled the trio “stupid and irresponsible” during sentencing proceedings in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Thokozani Mpanza, Nompilo Mpanza and Xolani Ntshingila were found guilty of kidnapping and robbery with aggravated circumstances relating to the kidnapping of baby Siyabonga Madubong in Protea Glen, Soweto.
Siyabonga, who was 14 months old at the time of the incident, was found in Newcastle, northern KwaZulu-Natal, a few days later.
Nompilo Mpanza, who was employed as a domestic worker to Siyabonga’s mother, was found to have been the mastermind behind the robbery and kidnap plan. She allegedly committed the crime in revenge against Siyabonga’s father who was apparently her sister’s ex-boyfriend.
Thokozani and Nompilo were sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for their role in the
‘‘ Your actions didn’t appear to have been thoroughly thought out
kidnapping, while Ntshingila was sentenced to 14 years after it emerged that he had four prior convictions for theft.
Handing down judgment, Mpofu labelled the trio stupid for failing to comprehend the consequences they would face for the kidnapping.
“Your actions did not appear to have been thoroughly thought out. The whole country held its breath after hearing and reading in the news that a 14-month-old baby had been kidnapped during a house robbery.
“You acted out of stupidity and did not know what you would gain,” Mpofu said.
During the trial, Siyabonga’s mother, Mandisa Mlambo, testified how she was held at knifepoint by Thokozani and Ntshingila on the day her baby was kidnapped.