Latest news with #NationalProsecutingAuthority
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ermelo Court sentences man to life imprisonment for rape of seven-year-old boy
Ermelo Court sentences man to life imprisonment for rape of seven-year-old boy A 41-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a seven-year-old boy in the Ermelo Regional Court on Friday, June 20. According to the National Prosecuting Authority's regional chairperson, Monica Nyuswa, on July 2023, the accused went to his friend's house where he was residing with the victim and requested to sleep as he was intoxicated. ALSO READ: Nkomazi court sentences rapist to 12 years in jail 'The accused shared the room with the victim and his father slept in a separate room. While sleeping, the accused undressed the minor boy and raped him. The victim screamed asking for help and the accused fled the scene. 'The victim was taken to Ermelo Thuthuzela Care Centre for medical examination and psychosocial support,' Nyuswa said. The accused was traced and arrested the same day at Mazakhele Section in Ermelo. Nuyswa said in court the accused claimed that he was intoxicated and denied raping the victim. Prosecutor Chané Rothman led credible evidence of the victim who testified using intermediary services. The victim's father also testified. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga police looking for family of man found dead in Vaalbank 'A medical report confirming injuries to the victim's private parts was presented in court. The accused was found guilty as charged.' Nyuswa said in aggravation of sentence, Rothman argued for the prescribed minimum sentence of life to be imposed on the accused, emphasising that the accused's behaviour warranted a strong societal message. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape. The court declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm, unsuitable to work with children and ordered his name entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Hitman jailed for brutal attack on elderly couple planned by son-in-law
A man who was paid R1,000 to kill an elderly couple as they prepared for Fajr — a sunrise prayer — has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the contract killing in Cape Town. Reagan Davis, 35, was handed two life sentences and 15 years' direct imprisonment by the Cape Town high court for the murder of 75-year-old Hashim Ahmed Dennis and attempted murder of his 70-year-old wife Kulsoem at home in Northpine, Brackenfell, on January 31 2020. Davis was a co-accused with the elderly couple's son-in-law Brent Williams — who died in February before the state closed its case. 'Senior state advocate Evadne Kortje proved the murder was a contract killing and the accused was paid R1,000, which he used to buy takkies,' said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila. Evidence was led by 10 witnesses which revealed Williams and his wife Ibtisaam Dennis, who lived with the elderly couple, had marital problems. Williams hired Davis and an unknown accomplice to invade and attack his in-laws to 'neutralise' his marital problems. Williams drove the hitmen to the property and they gained access via a security gate at about 4am and entered the couple's flatlet. '[Kulsoem Dennis] heard the voice of an intruder asking where the money was in Afrikaans before brutally attacking her. The intruder hit her on the head, neck and chest with a gun. She chanted, 'Allahu-Akbar' [God is Great] until she hit the floor. Severely injured and in shock, she lay on the floor, pretending to be dead as her [headscarf] fell softly over her face and she kept her eyes closed,' said Ntabazalila. Her husband was attacked as he came out the bathroom and died after being stabbed 15 times. Ibtisaam Dennis called the police, whose investigation confirmed her husband was the mastermind behind the attack.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Reagan Davids sentenced to life for contract killing of elderly couple in Cape Town
Hashim Dennis, 75, was preparing for prayers when his contract killers struck. Image: Supplied 'This court is mindful of the horrors which would have gone through the young minds of the two minor children and the gruesome events which will forever be etched in their memories.' These were the sentiments of Judge Gayaat Salie-Da Silva of the Western Cape High Court when she handed down two life sentences plus 15 years imprisonment to Reagan Davids for the brutal murder of 75-year-old Hashim Ahmed Dennis, and the attempted murder of his 70-year-old wife, Kulsoem Dennis. Davids faced charges of housebreaking with intent to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder of Kulsoem, attempted murder of Ibtisaam Dennis, and premeditated murder of Hashim Ahmed. The main accused in the matter, Brent Williams, died on February 10 shortly before the conclusion of the murder trial. Williams was the son-in-law of the Muslim couple who were attacked in their Northpine home near Brackenfell, Cape Town. The elderly couple was getting ready for their morning prayer when the vicious attack occurred, and the now-widowed wife, Ibtisaam, barely survived the assault. According to details that emerged during the trial, Williams had arranged the contract hit to 'neutralise' his marital problems he had been experiencing with Ibtisaam. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the two life sentences would run concurrently. 'Senior State Advocate Evadne Kortje proved that the murder was a contract killing and the accused was paid R1,000, which he used to buy takkies. Advocate Kortje presented evidence from 10 witnesses, which revealed that Brent Williams and his wife, Ibtisaam Dennis, stayed with the elderly couple on 6 Conifer Close, Northpine, Brackenfell. 'The couple had two children and were experiencing marital problems. Brent Williams hired Davis and another man, unknown to the State, to invade and attack his in-laws to 'neutralise' his marital problems. At the time, the elderly couple stayed in a flatlet in the couple's yard,' said Ntabazalila. The court heard that in the early hours of January 31, 2020, Williams was observed through CCTV footage driving with the two co-perpetrators in his red maroon bakkie to the vicinity of 6 Conifer Close. He dropped them and drove off to wait until they finished the job. They gained access to the property through a security gate, which was not forced open. The early hours of the morning, around 4am, are the time the devout Muslim worshippers prepare for Fajr - a sunrise prayer. During the attack, Hashim suffered multiple stab wounds, while Kulsoem faked being dead after being hit on the head, neck, and chest with a gun before dropping to the floor, where her burka covered her face. Ibtisaam heard a noise and noticed the bright light from her parents' flatlet. She went to investigate and met a knife-wielding intruder who charged at her. She quickly turned around and closed the sliding door to the main house, saving herself and her two children. Moments after the attack, CCTV footage captured the two attackers running back to Williams, getting in the bakkie, then driving off. Judge Salie-Da Silva in judgment said: 'These offences are marked by exceptional brutality, targeting vulnerable elderly victims in a sanctified setting. The level of violence, disregard for human life, and the psychological terror inflicted upon the surviving victims and, so too, the surrounding community, warrant the imposition of a long period of direct imprisonment… 'The proverbial saying that fact is stranger than fiction is a startling and disturbing feature of the events which took place in the early morning hours of Friday, 31 January 2020, and at the home of the victims. This court is mindful of the horrors which would have gone through the young minds of the two minor children and the gruesome events which will forever be etched in their memories.' [email protected]
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Stepfather plotted murder of disabled daughter for insurance payout - gets double life sentence
Nosipho Mafana, 23, was brutally murdered in her sleep by hitmen hired by her adoptive father in a calculated plot to claim over R600,000 in funeral. policy payouts. Image: Supplied A Western Cape stepfather who hired hitmen to kill his adopted daughter has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division sitting in Knysna convicted and sentenced Mboneleli Msila, who masterminded the plan to kill his disabled daughter so that he could benefit from three funeral policies amounting to R600,000. The victim, 23-year-old Nosipho Mafana, was shot 15 times in April 2022. She was adopted by Msila and his wife when she was 11 years old. Msila hired hitmen Mbulelo Jack, Monde Tshemese, and Lungisile Lucas to carry out the hit. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Msila received a double life sentence- one for murder and the other for conspiracy to commit murder. Tshemese, who carried out the hit, also received two life sentences, as well as five years for illegal possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Jack and Lucas were sentenced to 17 years' direct imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder and a further 17 years for murder. The court ordered their sentences to run concurrently, meaning they will each serve 17 years effectively. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the court found that the group had orchestrated a detailed plan, assigning specific roles to each man in a plot fuelled by greed and financial gain. "The well-orchestrated plan began in April 2021, when Mfana, under Msila's instruction, took out a R100,000 funeral policy with Standard Bank. The policy would pay out R200,000 in the event of an unnatural death. Msila was the beneficiary of this funeral policy," said Ntabazalila. In February 2022, another policy worth R200,000 was taken out with FNB, this time with Msila's sister-in-law listed as the beneficiary. A third policy with Capitec was also increased from R50,000 to R100,000 in March 2022, with his wife as the beneficiary. To execute the killing, Msila first approached his neighbour, offering him R40,000 and a firearm to commit the murder. When the neighbour declined, Msila turned to his nephew and three accomplices, Jack, Tshemese, and Lucas. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading On the night of April 30, 2022, the men entered Msila's property at 15 Cuba Street, KwaNokuthula, Plettenberg Bay. Jack and Tshemese entered the lounge where Mafana was sleeping on a mattress next to two other young women. Jack identified Mafana, and Tshemese opened fire, shooting her 15 times. Lucas stood guard outside. "The plan fell apart when a tin collector observed the three men when they entered the yard. He saw Lucas standing guard in the yard, and the other two men entered the house. He knew the three men as they lived in the area. He saw flashes of light like firecrackers from the house," said Ntabazalila. "He also observed the men leaving the house after numerous shots were fired. He reported the shooting incident to the investigating officer, whom he knew. He identified Jack and Lucas through a photographic identification exercise. He also took the investigating officer to Tshemese's residence and pointed him out." Msila submitted a claim to Standard Bank following Mafana's death, but the payout was blocked pending an investigation. However, FNB and Capitec paid out R200,000 each to Msila's sister-in-law and wife. Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Nicolette Bell commended the prosecution team and the police for their work, calling the crime 'barbaric.' 'The cruelty accused one showed in putting together the assassination plan, her funeral policy money, and the participants in that plan for their greedy benefit is indicative of the sick society we live in,' said Ntabazalila. 'Our responsibility is to live up to the challenge and ensure that we send each accused who is involved in such barbaric plans to prison for a long time.' IOL News
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Life sentence for man convicted of brutally murdering girlfriend
Nhlanhla Mathye will serve a life sentence behind bars for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, whom he had dated for just two months. Image: Keran Ducasse A man who had brutally assaulted and murdered his new girlfriend, will serve a life sentence behind bars for the heinous deed, to which he pleaded guilty. This week, the Polokwane High Court sentenced 32-year-old Nhlanhla Gift Mathye from Dennilton to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his 54-year-old girlfriend. He was also sentenced to an additional 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and 10 years for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences will run concurrently. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said when pleading to the charges he faced, Mathye said in his statement, made in terms of Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, that he and the deceased had been in a romantic relationship for only two months. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'On 24 September (last year), she invited him to accompany her on a visit to her AVBOB Funeral Insurance clients in the B90 farm area in the Sekhukhune district. They met at the Groblersdal Mall and drove together to the location. Due to poor road conditions, they left the vehicle and proceeded on foot. 'During the walk, an argument broke out. The deceased allegedly threatened Mathye with a stone, but then fled. Enraged, he chased after her and struck her on the head with a stone, causing her to fall. While she lay on the ground, he continued to strike her head repeatedly with another stone until she was unresponsive and bleeding. Mathye then dragged her body to a nearby river and dumped it,' said Malabi-Dzhangi. After the murder, Mathye took his girlfriend's car, her handbag, and other valuables and drove to his home. He was arrested two days later. 'The following day (after the murder), he used her vehicle to travel to work. He was arrested on 26 September in Groblersdal after security personnel found him in possession of the deceased's belongings. He subsequently confessed to the crime,' said Malabi-Dzhangi. In aggravation of sentence, court preparation officer Morongwe Moife presented a Victim Impact Statement from the deceased's daughter. She described the devastating impact of her mother's death, stating that her mother had been the family's sole provider. The daughter was left to care for her younger sister and said they now struggle to afford necessities like food and electricity. State Advocate Rendani Mulaudzi argued that Mathye's guilty plea was not sincere but rather a response to overwhelming evidence. 'She emphasised that the murder occurred during the early stages of their relationship, a time typically marked by affection and emotional bonding, and urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. The court agreed with the State and imposed the sentence accordingly,' said Malabi-Dzhangi. Advocate Ivy Thenga, Director of Public Prosecutions in the Limpopo Division, welcomed the judgment and commended the prosecution team for their diligence and commitment to justice.
