Life sentences for murderous duo

TWO men who went on a violent crime spree in the eShowe region will spend the remainder of their days in prison.

Siyanda Thwala (24) and Sdumo Cebekhulu (30) were sentenced to two life terms and an additional 40 years in prison at the Mtunzini High Court on Thursday.

They were found guilty on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, rape, kidnapping, murder and for being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

In November 2015 the two entered a shop in the Mngampondo area near eShowe and robbed a female shopkeeper at gunpoint and then stabbed her to death.

The community conducted a huge manhunt to bring the culprits to justice, but their efforts proved fruitless.

The following day police were called to the area after Thwala was seen in the area.

When police apprehended him they found him in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Cebekhulu was also arrested soon after.

In a surprising twist of events, while police were investigating the eShowe incident, ballistic tests on the firearms found in possession of both criminals revealed they were also linked to another case in Empangeni.

It was discovered they hijacked a couple, killed the driver and locked the female passenger inside the boot and later repeatedly raped her..

She managed to escape and reported the incident to the Empangeni SAPS.