Eastern Cape Court Hands Down Life Sentences for Witchcraft Murders

• Seven people convicted of the murder of two sisters in the Eastern Cape were sentenced to life behind bars
• The group reportedly stoned and torched Nothethisa Ntshamba and Ntombekhaya Ndlanya, whom they accused of witchcraft
• The group was also handed an additional 10 years each for arson; however, the sentence would run concurrently with the murder term

Zingisa Chirwa is an experienced Briefly News journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who covered court proceedings and current affairs on the radio for over 15 years.

South Africans have welcomed the sentencing of seven convicts who burnt two women whom they accused of witchcraft alive.

7 Found guilty of murder and arson

The Mthatha High Court sitting in Ntabankulu sentenced the group to two life terms each for the murder of sisters Nothethisa Ntshamba and Ntombekhaya Ndlanya.

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Lwandiso Mzaza (29), Lufefe Mzaza (28), Yamkela Nonjojo (31), Odwa Nonjojo (34), Anelisiwe Nonjojo (32), Zithini Rhayisa (34) and Mkhonzeni Ngcabangcosi (24) were handed their sentence on 12 July 2024.

The seven reportedly bought petrol in December 2018 and plotted to kill those they suspected of being witches. According to TimesLIVE, the group confronted the sisters and stoned them before dousing them with the fuel and setting them alight. The group then reportedly burnt down Ntshamba’s home in the Ngonyama Administrative Area in the EmaXesibeni District.

The group was also handed an additional 10 years each for arson; however, the sentence would run concurrently with the murder term.

Mzansi welcomes sentence

Many netizens applauded the court for handing down life sentences to the convicted.

Setukana Molaakgosi said:

“That serves them well; they will meet their match in prison.”

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Amos Zacks Zulu added:

“Good.”

Karabelo Lemenemene Kay commented:

“We need to rid ourselves of these 14th-century beliefs... Afrika o salela morago [Africa is lagging behind] while other parts of the world are zooming into the new world.”

@Kudzi75 stated

“South Africans doing what they know best.”

Damian Noel Houlihan giggled:

"21st century, and they believe in magic. Hysterical."

Lady accuses roommate of using witchcraft

Briefly News previously reported that a woman accused her roommate of attempting to ruin her life.

The student said her roommate tried to use witchcraft to make her go backwards academically.

Fortunately, through the help of a pastor, she found out about the plot.

Source: Briefly News