Hitman jailed for murder of ANC youth leader Sindiso Magaqa
Sibusiso Ncengwa was convicted after he pleaded guilty to murdering Magaqa in 2017.
He was sentenced to 25 years for conspiracy to commit murder, 25 years for murder, 15 years for three counts of attempted murder, nine years for malicious damage to property, 10 years for unlawful possession of a firearm and one year for possession of unlicensed ammunition. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Ncengwa is already serving 95 years in prison for armed robbery convictions.
His defence lawyer, advocate Andrew Matlamela, had pleaded with the court to hand down a lenient sentence, saying his client had shown remorse by pleading guilty. However, the prosecutor, advocate Elvis Gcweka, told the court Magaqa's family is battling to come to terms with their loss and his mother breaks down in tears when her son's death is brought up.
Three other co-accused —Sbonelo Myeza, Mbulelo Mpofana and Mlungisi Ncalane — were charged with conspiracy to murder, murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and malicious damage to property.
Ncalane has been declared unfit to stand trial after two psychiatric reports revealed he was mentally ill. He is a patient at Napier Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.
The trial for the other two suspects is scheduled for October.
TimesLIVE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
8 hours ago
- The Herald
Limpopo man arrested for allegedly killing baby girl and injuring mother with pickup van
A 35-year-old Limpopo man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 13-month-old baby girl and the injury of her mother who were run over by a pickup van. Provincial police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said the incident happened on Friday at about 8pm. He said the woman and the man — her ex-boyfriend — allegedly had a heated argument while she was waiting with her baby for a taxi to take them to Segopye village, outside Polokwane. 'A taxi arrived and she and her baby boarded. On the way, the taxi driver apparently informed her that a pickup van was following the taxi. 'They [mother and child] alighted at Marothi (Makwalaneng) and her ex-boyfriend allegedly drove over them at high speed,' Ledwaba said. The woman and child were taken to hospital where the little girl died. The mother sustained injuries to her legs. The man is expected to appear in the Makweng magistrate's court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted murder. SowetanLIVE
The Herald
15 hours ago
- The Herald
Triple murder, attempted murder allegedly committed by men posing as cops in Philippi East
Serious and violent crime unit detectives are investigating a triple murder and attempted murder allegedly committed by suspects posing as policemen in the early hours of Saturday in Philippi East. Cape Town police said two unknown suspects approached a residence in Hankomo Street, Lower Crossroads, identified themselves as police officers and claimed to be looking for something. The suspects then opened fire on the occupants of the house. 'Two men, aged 19 and 20, and a 20-year-old woman, were declared dead at the scene by medical personnel. A fourth victim, a 26-year-old woman, sustained gunshot wounds to her arms and was transported to a medical facility for treatment.' The armed men then fled. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or report information anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application. TimesLIVE
The Herald
15 hours ago
- The Herald
Police scour Middelpos settlement after new information in Joshlin Smith case
Western Cape police searched an area in the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay on Friday afternoon chasing leads as part of the investigation into the disappearance of seven-year-old Joshlin Smith. Joshlin's mother, Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, Smith's boyfriend Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis, 33, and Steveno van Rhyn, 28, received life sentences for the kidnapping and trafficking of Joshlin in May. An eight-week trial revealed how the trio planned to sell the green-eyed grade 1 pupil with fair skin to a sangoma for R20,000 from their home in the settlement in February last year. 'SAPS teams led by detectives with K-9 members, search and rescue teams and local police have been scouring an identified area in Saldanha Bay. Whether the ongoing search will yield any success remains to be seen. It is worth reiterating that police have an obligation to follow up and test all information that is brought to their attention,' Western Cape police said on Saturday. 'A humble plea is hereby made that the search teams be afforded space to perform their duties as the investigation continues.' Police said on Saturday, even though the three were sentenced for kidnapping and human trafficking, the disappearance without trace of the child remained a priority for police and the investigation was never closed. TimesLIVE
