LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF FOREIGN SHOPKEEPER

22 May 2025

LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF FOREIGN SHOPKEEPER

The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, Bhisho, sentenced Siyavuya “Luckiest” Thisani (32) and Aphelele “Blee” Ntsinga (28) to life imprisonment for the murder of an Ethiopian shopkeeper. The duo was further sentenced to 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, eight years for unlawful possession of firearm and three five years for unlawful possession of ammunition. The court ordered that the later sentences run concurrently with the life term for murder.

On the morning of 14 March 2023, the two friends who were known to the deceased shopkeeper, approached him at his Heleluya spaza shop in Njwaxa area in the district of Middledrift. They requested to be given cigarettes on credit. When the shopkeeper refused their request, they exited the shop, only to return a few minutes later brandishing a firearm and demanding money and cigarettes. The retailer refused to hand over the items. Ntsinga then shot and killed him, and they made off with money, airtime vouchers and cartons of cigarettes.

The deceased’s assistant, who went to school with Tisani witnessed the whole incident, and two men who were at work in the neighbouring clinic saw the two assailants running away from the shop, carrying their loot. Attempts to save the life of the deceased failed as he later died at Victoria Hospital in Dikeni.

During their trial, the two accused pleaded not guilty. Thisani attempted to mislead the court into believing that he was compelled by his accomplice to be part of the robbery, as he was afraid of him. Ntsinga, on the other hand, denied ever being on the scene. The court found that the evidence of witnesses led by Senior State Advocate Nkululeko Mzinyati was the only plausible truth. It agreed with the prosecution’s submissions that the deceased fell under the vulnerable groups as a foreigner and found no substantial and compelling circumstances for deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence of life for premeditated murder.

Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, stated that it can never be over emphasized how important human life is and therefore the NPA will be vigorous in its pursuit of these cases in order to serve as deterrent to would be murderers.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Eastern Cape Division
Tel: 047 501 2630
Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za