The East London High Court has found the Ncamazana brothers guilty of murder, SABC news reported on Wednesday. Dumisani Ncamazana, a pardoned Apla cadre, was found guilty of the murder and armed robbery of Martin Whitaker.
His younger brother, Simnikiwe, was found guilty of the murder of taxi driver Xolani Gongota.
Judgement was still pending on the other counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, house-breaking, two charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and one of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Simnikiwe and Dumisani Ncamazana were on trial on an array of charges arising from armed robberies, housebreaking with intent to rob, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice.
The most serious charges, however, related to the murders earlier this year of Mdantsane taxi-operator, Xolani Gongota, and East London businessman, Martin Whitaker.
Provincial deputy director of public prosecutions, Advocate Malherbe Marais, said evidence had placed both brothers at the scene of the Whitaker murder on May 27.
Further evidence showed Simnikiwe to have been with the man who shot and killed Gongota in his taxi on the outskirts of East London on June 28.
Dumisani had been granted a presidential pardon and released from prison just two weeks prior to the Whitaker murder.
Defence counsel Advocate Pumelele Hole attacked the credibility of alleged accomplices who had turned state witness, saying there was little doubt that they had lied without compunction.
Hole also questioned certain police investigation methods, saying he doubted some of the practices were in line with the accused men’s constitutional rights. – Sapa