FATHER AND SON’S KILLER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT
29 May 2025
FATHER AND SON’S KILLER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT
Gqeberha – The Gqeberha Regional Court has sentenced Kamvelihle Jekemane (23) to an effective 20 years’ imprisonment for his role in a violent home invasion that left a father and son dead. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, double murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges relate to a tragic incident on 17 November 2023, when Blackie Vuyisile Jacob (72) and his son Bongani Elliot Bizwaphi (52) were shot and killed in their home in KwaZakhele Township, Gqeberha.
On the day of the attack, two unknown men entered the family’s yard and asked about Bongani. Suspicious of the strangers, Bongani’s mother questioned their intentions, explaining that her son, who was mentally challenged, had no friends. The men claimed they needed a USB from him. She eventually led them to Bongani’s room, while her daughter remained inside the main house. Moments later, gunshots rang out. Bongani had been fatally shot in his room.
The assailants then stormed into the main house and shot Jacob in the lounge. They kicked down a bedroom door, where the mother and daughter had taken cover, and demanded money and cellphones. In fear for their lives, the mother handed over two phones before the attackers fled. Once it was safe, the family discovered both victims lying in pools of blood and unresponsive. The mother rushed to the nearest police station to report the crime.
An identity parade, conducted with the help of eyewitnesses, led to the identification of the suspects. While the exact motive remains unclear, Jekemane pleaded guilty to all charges in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act. His co-accused is expected to stand trial on 07 and 08 October 2025, following the separation of the cases after Jekemane's guilty plea. At the time of sentencing, Jekemane was already serving a 28-year prison sentence for robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of an unlicensed firearm, imposed in September 2024. The court ruled that the 20-year sentence in the current case will run consecutively with his existing sentence, meaning he will only begin serving the new sentence after completing the current one.
Senior State Advocate Thabisile Ncanana presented compelling victim impact evidence from the mother and daughter of the deceased, who described the emotional trauma and lasting effects of the attack. A photo album of the crime scene and a ballistic report, which confirmed that the same firearm was used in both killings, were admitted into evidence. Jekemane chose not to testify in mitigation, relying solely on submissions made by his legal representative.
Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Barry Madolo, commended the prosecution team and all role players involved: “This was a senseless and brutal act of violence that devastated an innocent family. The fact that the accused will begin serving this 20-year sentence only after completing his current 28-year term is a clear demonstration of how seriously our courts view violent crime. The National Prosecuting Authority remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring justice for victims.”
Issued by:
Luxolo Tyali
Regional Spokesperson Eastern Cape Division
National Prosecuting Authority
Tel: 047 501 2630
Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za
Enquiries: nmakupula@npa.gov.za | 📱 068 268 2473