Convicted murderers and robbers Simnikiwe and Dumisani Ncamazana will spend at least the next 25 years behinds bars after they were given life sentences in the East London High Court on Thursday.
The sentences were for the murder in May this year of local businessman Martin Whitaker. Simnikiwe Ncamazana received a further 25-year sentence for the murder in June of Mdantsane taxi operator Xolani Gongota.
In passing sentence, Judge Chris Jansen said that South Africa, the Eastern Cape and the East London community in particular, was sick and tired of crime and violence.
He said it was incumbent on the court to act in the interest of society by passing severe sentences for violent crimes.
In total, Simnikiwe Ncamazana would serve the life sentence and a further 79 years for the murder of Gongota and various counts of robbery, housebreaking with an intent to rob, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and obstructing the course of justice.
Former Azanian Peoples’ Liberation Army (Apla) cadre Dumisani Ncamazana would, in addition to the life sentence for killing Whitaker, serve a further 34 years for robbery, receiving stolen property, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and defeating the course of justice.
Dumisani Ncamazana was one of 33 people pardoned by President Thabo Mbeki earlier this year. He was released from prison just two weeks before he killed Whitaker.
Defence attorney Pumelele Hole said that he had been instructed by the Ncamazana brothers to investigate the possibility of an appeal. – Sapa