Femicide Perpetrator Sentenced

FEMICIDE PERPETRATOR SENTENCED 

The East London Regional Court sentenced retired teacher Siyabulela Ngcaba (51) to 15 years imprisonment after convicting him on the charge of murder. He killed his wife inside their flat at Southernwood, in East London, on 28 October 2016 in the presence of their minor children during a domestic violence episode. The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm. He was arrested a few hours after committing the crime at the scene. After police were alerted, evidence is that his wife had refused to allow their children to visit their paternal aunt, and there was a dispute. He left and came back just before midnight. The helper and the wife’s cousins, who were in the apartment woke up to screams pleading with Ngcaba not to kill her. They tried intervening in vain, and even their 11-year-old son tried to intervene, but he stabbed her to death.

The state opposed his release on bail, but the court granted it. During the trial, he changed legal representatives at least four times, sometimes they would be absent due to non-payments, leading to lengthy delays in finalising the case. Among the witnesses called by the prosecution, was the 11-year-old child, who had to relive the incident. The court had to rely on the discretionary minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment because the crime was committed before the legislation was amended to a minimum life imprisonment sentence, for killing an intimate partner. Having considered the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, as argued by prosecutor, Lonwabo Sayita, the court found that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances for deviation from the minimum sentence.

Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended the prosecutor and investigating officers for ensuring that the perpetrator of femicide is sentenced appropriately.

Kind regards,

Luxolo Tyali
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Eastern Cape Division
Tel: 0475012630
Cell: 0735559292
Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za