The High Court of South Africa: Eastern Cape Division,
sitting in Ntabankulu has sentenced Sanelisiwe Phiwani (23) to two life
imprisonment terms plus 15 years behind bars.
He was sentenced to life for murder, life for robbery
with aggravating circumstances, 10 years for defeating the ends of justice and
five years for kidnapping.
The court ordered that the other sentences run
concurrently with the life sentence for murder.
In September 2020 Phiwani received an “order” from a
person in KwaBhaca wanting to buy a stolen VW Polo. He and his accomplice made
plans to rob “easy targets” around Mount Fletcher.
They met the deceased,
driving her black VW Polo, to whom Phiwani proposed love and they exchanged
cell phone numbers.
On September 13, 2020 Phiwani lured her to Showini
Location, outside town, by pretending to have had a breakdown with his own
vehicle.
Upon her arrival on the spot where he was waiting,
they tied her up with a rope, strangled her to death and put her body in the
boot of her car.
They then drove more than 150 kilometres to KwaBhaca
where they buried her in a shallow grave near Tina River. While still
searching for the buyer of the vehicle, they were arrested by the police inside
the deceased’s vehicle, still in possession of her bank cards and three
cellphones.
Her body was recovered by police after it was pointed out by
Phiwani and his accomplice.
Phiwani pleaded not guilty.
State Advocate Nkululeko
Mzinyati led the evidence of his accomplice, who pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to 20 years. The state also called 10 other witnesses to
convince the court. Arguing for the imposition of a life sentence, the
prosecutor told the court that Phiwani had abused the trust and kindness of the
deceased, who was willing to help him.
Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of
Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended the prosecutor and the police’s
swift reaction and investigation of this crime.
