Cape Town — The Eastern Cape High Court in Mthatha sentenced seven people to life in prison after burning and killing two women they had believed to practice witchcraft.
Lwandiso Mzaza (29), Lufefe Mzaza (28), Zithini Rhayisa (34), Yamkela Nonjojo (31), Odwa Nonjojo (34), Anelisiwe Nonjojo (32), and Mkhonzeni Ngcabangcosi (24) were each handed the maximum sentence for killing sisters, Nothethisa Ntshamba and her sister Ntombekhaya Ndlanya in eMaxesibeni (formerly Mount Ayliff), The Citizen reported.
According to the court, the seven people were found guilty of two counts of murder and arson, for which they received two life terms and ten years respectively, which were ordered to run concurrently/
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, confirmed that the the Mzazas and Nonjojos are biological brothers and that all the convicted persons are from EmaXesibeni.
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The group met on 12 December 2018, chaired by the older Mzaza brother, and decided that the sisters must be killed by burning them because, according to them, they practised witchcraft.
Tyali said on 12 December 2018, the group had two meetings that were chaired by the older Mzaza brother, Lwandiso, where it was decided that Ntshamba and Ndlanya must be killed by burning them because they were, according to them, practising witchcraft.
“They clubbed money and bought petrol to burn the deceased, their houses, and their families. On the night of the same day, Nothethisa Ntshamba was at home with her husband, three children, and her sister, Ntombekhaya Ndlanya,” Tyali said.
According to TimesLIVE, Nothethisa Ntshamba was at home with her husband, three children, and her sister, completely unaware of the sinister plot to kill them.
When Ntshamba left the house to walk her sister home, they were accosted by the group who assaulted them, pelted them with stones, and doused them with petrol before setting them alight. The group rushed to Ntshamba’s home and burned it too, Tyali said.
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The group was arrested and pleaded not guilty, saying their identities could not be confirmed as the incident happened at night, but Rhayisa had confessed to police but tried to retract it during her confession.
“This necessitated a trial-within-a-trial. The court found the confession admissible. The state further led the evidence of the eyewitnesses, some being the children of the deceased,” said Tyali.
Senior state advocate, Mbulelo Nyendwa, had some stirring words and said violence against women who are accused of unfounded claims of practising witchcraft was prevalent throughout the country.
The children of the deceased not only lost their mothers but had been displaced and feared for their lives while living with the stigma of being called children of witches by residents, Nyendwa said.
Judge Nozuko Mjali stated that no self-respecting country would condone the actions of the accused and they deserved a harsh punishment to protect society from those who do not respect the law.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
