LIFE AND 25 YEARS FOR DOUBLE MURDER
23 SEPTEMBER 2025
LIFE AND 25 YEARS FOR DOUBLE MURDER
The Durban High Court has sentenced Sabelo Phewa (27) to two terms of life imprisonment for the murder of Sibusiso Edward Sithole and Amos Ngcobo in March and June 2017. Sithole, the Municipal Manager of Richmond Local Municipality, was killed in Richmond, while Ngcobo was killed in KwaNyuswa. Phewa was also sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Some time before the incident, Phewa and other assailants decided to kill Sithole. In March 2017, they armed themselves with firearms and proceeded to Sithole’s workplace in Richmond to execute their plan. They parked their motor vehicle near his and waited for him to approach his vehicle. They shot him, and he died at the scene, with the cause of death being gunshot wounds to the head, chest, and limbs. They then fled the scene. The deceased in the second murder, Amos Ngcobo, was in a romantic relationship with his partner, Ntombizonke Mayvis Mbutho. While they lived together, they had an acrimonious relationship. Mbutho decided to kill Ngcobo and sought the assistance of Simo Dladla, who procured the services of Phewa. In June 2017, Phewa armed himself with a firearm and went to the deceased’s homestead. There, he fatally shot Ngcobo in the head and upper limbs. In February 2018, SAPS officials went to the KwaNyuswa area to conduct a raid at Phewa’s girlfriend’s house. He shot at them and fled. He was eventually arrested about a week later and was found in possession of the firearm and ammunition, which linked him to the murders of Sithole and Ngcobo.
In court, Advocate Nhlanhla Shange led the evidence of the police officers who arrested Phewa, ballistic evidence, as well as the testimony of the medical practitioners who conducted the postmortems. In aggravation of sentence, Shange handed in Victim Impact Statements (VIS) compiled by Sithole’s wife and his sister and facilitated by the Court Preparation Officer Mbalenhle Komane. In her statement, Sithole’s wife said that he was someone who believed in self-development. He was due to graduate in May 2017, a month after his death. She further stated that she has experienced health problems following his death. Sithole’s sister said that their mother has suffered two strokes since Sithole’s death. She said that Sithole was their breadwinner, and he took care of everyone.
Phewa was sentenced to life imprisonment for each of the two counts of murder, five years imprisonment for attempted murder (when he shot at the police), 15 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm, and five years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Mbutho pleaded guilty (before the finalisation of this matter) and was given a term of imprisonment. She further testified against Phewa. Dladla died in September 2017.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence, and we commend the successful partnership between the Prosecution, the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal and other stakeholders. We trust that sentences of this nature will deter like-minded individuals.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
0716700229