The accused - Morapedi Rankali, 32, Motlalentwa Qhautse, 42, Lizbeth Ndlala, 61, Themba Lawrence Maja, 63, Oupa Jeffrey Mahomane, 49, Samson Sam Mbokane, 68, and Jabulani Wilson Zuma, 67 - were sentenced in the Northern Cape High Court this week for the robbery and murder of well-known businessman Piet Els and the assault and sexual assault of his partner.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
TWO OF the sickly and elderly accused “slept rough” at a taxi rank in Kimberley while attending the trial for the robbery and murder of businessman Piet Els, 86, as well as the brutal attack and sexual assault of his 67-year-old partner.
The couple were tortured and assaulted with an iron bar and burned with a clothes iron at Carter Ridge farm on January 24, 2018.
Items stolen from the property included money, gold coins, diamonds, jewellery, cameras, firearms, and a Mercedes-Benz.
The accused - Morapedi Rankali, 32, Motlalentwa Qhautse, 42, Lizbeth Ndlala, 61, Themba Lawrence Maja, 63, Oupa Jeffrey Mahomane, 49, Samson Sam Mbokane, 68, and Jabulani Wilson Zuma, 67 - were sentenced in the Northern Cape High Court this week.
Judge Lawrence Lever said Rankali played a lesser role in the crime, as he had merely kept a broken ring on behalf of his brother.
He believed that, as a first offender, Rankali was capable of rehabilitation.
"There is no doubt that he knew that the broken ring originated from the robbery. When he took possession of the ring, it was broken into two pieces and the diamond was missing.”
He added that even without the missing diamond, the gold content of the ring was valued at approximately R30,000.
Rankali was sentenced to three years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
Lever noted the exceptional level of violence inflicted during the attack, sentencing Qhautse to life imprisonment for murder, housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and sexual assault.
“The deceased suffered a long and agonising death. It is clear from his (Qhautse) evidence that he accepts no responsibility for any aspect of his conduct that led to his convictions,” said Lever.
He stated that Qhautse had previous convictions that pointed to a history of violence.
Morapedi Rankali and Motlalentwa Qhautse,were sentenced in the Northern Cape High Court this week.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
Lever said that Ndlala, her husband Maja, and Mbokane were traditional healers who used their “powers” to ensure the success of the robbery.
They were each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
“Ndlala and Maja recruited Mahomane to represent them in the execution of the robbery itself. Aside from that, Ndlala, Maja and Mbokane played a comparatively minor role in the planning and execution of the robbery.
“However, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that Mahomane informed Ndlala, Maja, Mbokane and Zuma of the details of the robbery and the assault on Els and his partner. Despite this, Ndlala, Maja, Mbokane and Zuma never disassociated themselves from the robbery and shared in the proceeds of the robbery.”
Lever pointed out that Ndlala did not have formal accommodation in Kimberley during the trial.
“For each sitting of the court, she had to travel from Mpumalanga and had to sleep rough at the taxi rank.”
Lizbeth Ndlala, 61, was one of the accused who slept at the taxi rank during the trial.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
He noted that this was her first offence, committed at the relatively advanced age of 61.
Lever was not convinced by Mahomane’s claims that he was not involved in the robbery, as he had shared in the spoils of the loot.
“He was one of the intruders who actively participated in the brutal assault.”
Oupa Jeffrey Mahomane and Samson Sam Mbokane appeared in the Northern Cape High Court this week in connection with the robbery and murder of Piet Els.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
Mahomane was sentenced to 20 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years for sexual assault, which will run concurrently with his life sentence for murder.
Lever noted that like Ndlala, Mbokane, who suffered from a variety of medical conditions, also “slept rough” at the taxi rank during the trial.
“He accepts no responsibility for the crime,” he pointed out.
Jabulani Zuma, who claims to be the son of former president Jacob Zuma, appeared in the Northern Cape High Court this week.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
Zuma was linked to the crime through cellphone evidence and was identified as a key organiser in the execution of the robbery.
He is a subsistence farmer with seven children between the ages of five and 35 years old.
Lever pointed out that Zuma, at the time of the commission of the crime, was supposed to be out on probation until 2037.
“His previous convictions show a propensity for violence. I believe a long term of 20 years
imprisonment is in the public interest.”
All the accused will apply for leave to appeal, while the application of Mahomane’s appeal against his sentence was dismissed.
The investigation team from the SAPS Organised Crime Unit - Captain Siretta Zandberg, retired Colonel Wilmo Vermeulen, senior State advocate Hannes Cloete (from the directorate of Public Prosecutions) and Lieutenant-Colonel Hanlie Conradie.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
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