The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, Mthatha, on Tuesday sentenced one Sihle Manciya (26) to two life terms for the m8rder of his 17-year-old girlfriend and her 70-year-old grandmother.
The court sentenced him to two more life imprisonment terms for the attempted m8rder of his girlfriend’s mother and her sister. The life terms will run concurrently.
The women were attacked by Manciya in the sanctuary of their home in Sulenkama Location in Qumbu on the night of 29 April 2024.
In his guilty plea explanation, Manciya admitted that he was in a love relationship with Simcelile Nozulu and suspected that she was in a relationship with another man.
On the night in question, he walked from his home at the neighbouring Lwandlana Location to the Nozulu home, where he found the family sleeping in a rondavel.
The door and the windows were closed, but the electric lights inside were on. Armed with an Okapi knife, he gained entry into the rondavel through the window and indiscriminately stabbed all adults in the room. He then fled the scene.
The granny, whose throat was slit, d!ed on the scene while others were taken to hospital. Simcelile was certified dead on arrival at the hospital, while the two survivors sustained serious injuries.
On the following day, Manciya informed his employer about what he had done. The employer subsequently informed the police, leading to Manciya’s arrest, and he confessed before a magistrate.
Arguing for an appropriate sentence, State Advocate Avumile Bikitsha stated that Manciya’s confession and guilty plea were not a sign of remorse but regret.
He stressed that he had ample time to reconcile himself with what he was about to do when he armed himself with a knife, walked a long distance on foot from one village to another, and, without provocation, attacked defenceless women.
Adv. Bikitsha added that it was in the interest of society at large that femicide perpetrators are harshly punished to deter other would-be offenders.
The court agreed and did not budge on the defence’s submissions that Manciya be sentenced to 15 years because of his youthfulness and that he cooperated with the law enforcement authorities and did not waste the court’s time.
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo welcomed the sentence, stating that it can never be over-emphasised how important human life is and, therefore, the NPA will be vigorous in our pursuit of these cases to ensure that justice is served for all members of the society.
