The Durban High Court sentenced the mother and daughter, Slindile Zamisa (45) and Andile Zamisa (25) to two life sentences and 16 years imprisonment respectively for the kidnapping and murder of a mother and her 12-year-old daughter in October 2020 in the Newlands West area outside Durban in KwaZulu Natal. The two accused their neighbours of witchcraft before they attacked and killed them. 

DEFEATING THE ENDS OF JUSTICE

They were also convicted of defeating the administration of justice for concealing the evidence by removing the deceased from where they were killed and disposing of their bodies in another area. The deceased, Smangele Simamane and her daughter Sbongakonke Mthembu lived in the same neighbourhood as Slindile and Andile. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) KZN Spokesperson Natasha Kara said on the day of the offence, the convicted murderers invited Smangele and Sibongakonke to their house under the pretence of wanting to resolve a dispute between Sbongakonke and one of their younger family members. "On their arrival, the women accused them of killing their male relative, Bheki Ngcobo, using witchcraft. They kept the deceased in their home for several hours, torturing them ," Kara said. She added that Smangele in particular, was assaulted and had boiling water poured into her ears and all over her body. After they were killed, their bodies were disposed of in the KwaDabeka area. "Following the murders, the women and their co-perpetrators moved around to various areas until they were arrested," said Kara. State Advocate Gugu Xulu led the testimonies of the two co-accused who have already pleaded guilty to the offence as well as the evidence of the medical doctor, who confirmed that Smangele had died of head and soft tissue injuries and possible strangulation, while Sbongakonke died of strangulation," Kara added. 

DECEASED FAMILIES DEVASTATED

She further said that Xulu also presented the court with Victim Impact Statements compiled by family members of the deceased and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Thandeka Nadi Mofokeng. "In their statements, they all talked about the devastation that they are experiencing following the murders. They said that they are angry and hurt and there is now a void in their family," she said. Slindile was sentenced to life imprisonment for each of the murders, five years imprisonment for each of the two counts of kidnapping and six years imprisonment for defeating. The court ruled that the kidnappings and beating will run concurrently with life imprisonment; the life sentences, however, will run consecutively. Andile was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, five years imprisonment for each of the two counts of kidnapping and six years imprisonment for defeating. The court ruled that the kidnappings and beating will run concurrently with the life imprisonment, resulting in an effective term of life imprisonment. The NPA said they welcome the successful finalisation of this matter. "We hope that the sentences metered out provide some solace to the affected family," added Kara.