Three male suspects aged between 24 and 34 years were sentenced to two life terms imprisonment each at Mthatha High Court on Thursday, 25 February 2021.
Mfundo Mafa (24) from Lujizweni village and Babini Mangala from Canzibe village, both in Ngqeleni, and Bezile Nokwabuza (34) from Goso village in eMaxesibeni were sentenced for the murder of Reformed Presbyterian church steward Zolisa Kolwane and Methodist bishop for the Clarkebury district, Thembinkosi Fandaleki in two different incidents.
The two incidents occurred 10 days apart in the same area near Mthatha railway station.
Kolwane was sitting in his car with a sex worker when they got attacked by two armed men who also robbed them of their belongings. Kolwane was shot in the head by Mafa and Mangala and later died in hospital. The sex worker was also injured but survived.
In the second incident, Thembinkosi Fandaleki was also sitting in his car with a sex worker when they were accosted by three armed men who shot and robbed them of their belongings.
Fandaleki was shot in the chest and was found dead in his car while the sex worker survived the incident.
Mafa and Mangala were both sentenced for the murders, two counts of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms with intent to commit an offense, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Nokwabuza was sentenced for murder, armed robbery with aggravating circumstances, the unlawful possession of firearms with an intent to commit an offense, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
During investigations, items belonging to the victims were recovered. The Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga welcomed the court outcomes.