Life terms for 3 who scared community

A DURBAN High Court judge yesterday gave several life sentences to three men after a spate of crimes left several people dead.

The three men, two of whom are brothers, had been found guilty by High Court Judge Kate Pillay, on various counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and housebreaking with the intent to rob. The men are Bongani Khambule and Sibongiseni Ncikazi and Thamsanqa Sokhela, who are brothers.

Five people lost their lives when the men committed the robberies in 2011. Charges relating to a sixth murder were dropped. Initially six men were charged with the crimes that took place in Mariannhill, but three of them were acquitted in 2012 after they applied to have the charges against them withdrawn.

In February 2011 the men arrived at a tavern and stole money, alcohol and cigarettes totalling R28 000.

Only Ncikazi was found guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances and two counts of attempted murder.

In May, a general dealer was robbed of R2000 and the owner of the store, Johannes Mkhize, was killed. Ncikazi and Sokhela were found guilty.

In June, Abednigo Mnisi was murdered and cellphones and money were stolen.

Khambule and Ncikazi were found guilty of murder while Sokhela was acquitted.

In June 2011, tavern owner Sakhele Khuzwayo was murdered and liquor and cigarettes were stolen.

Khambule was found guilty of killing husband and wife Mkhontembili and Delisile Jabu Shange at their home in July. The couple’s eldest daughter testified in court.

In passing sentence, Pillay said while it was regrettable the men emerged from difficult backgrounds, it did not give them the right to kill. With not enough mitigating factors put before court to deviate from the minimum sentencing, Pillay handed out lengthy sentences for each of the different counts against the men, all to run concurrently, but effectively resulting in life imprisonment for each of the men.