TWO SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has secured life imprisonment sentences against 33-year-old Mntuwasekhaya Mpayipheli and 30-year-old Zimbabwean national Thabiso Bovora Raganay for the murder of Simon Mpayipheli, a well-known taxi operator and philanthropist in the Elundini area. Mntuwasekhaya is the son of the deceased. The Tlokoeng Regional Court (formerly Mount Fletcher Regional Court) sentenced both accused to life imprisonment for murder. They were also sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and three years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. In addition, Raganay was sentenced to five months' imprisonment for contravening the Immigration Act by being in South Africa illegally.

On the evening of 09 March 2024, Simon Mpayipheli was attacked at his home in Mdeni Location, Katkop. The assailants entered his bedroom and shot him multiple times, killing him at the scene. As the murder was initially suspected to be linked to taxi violence, the Joe Gqabi District Taxi Violence Task Team became involved in the investigation. While processing the crime scene, investigators discovered spent cartridges hidden inside shoes belonging to the deceased's son in a separate room. During questioning, Mntuwasekhaya Mpayipheli disclosed his involvement in the murder and implicated the hitman.

Raganay was subsequently arrested in Langa, Cape Town, while in possession of the firearm used in the murder. Ballistic testing confirmed that the firearm was linked to the spent cartridges recovered at the scene in Tlokoeng. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the son had hired the hitman following disagreements with his father over the management of the family taxi business. He was further motivated by the prospect of inheriting his father's taxi fleet.

The two accused travelled from Cape Town and waited in the nearby town of Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear) until the early evening. They then proceeded to the home shared by the deceased and his son. Mntuwasekhaya Mpayipheli directed the hitman to his father's bedroom, where the deceased was shot and killed while asleep. Although both accused initially pleaded not guilty, they later changed their pleas to guilty during the trial proceedings.

In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Nkululeko Mzinyathi argued that the murder was carefully planned and executed. He submitted that, while the matter appeared to stem from a family dispute, it had been deliberately disguised as an act of taxi violence. Advocate Mzinyathi further argued that such deception carried the potential to trigger retaliatory attacks by rival taxi operators or associations, potentially resulting in further bloodshed.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Samkelo Mtwana, welcomed the outcome and commended the prosecutor and investigating team for their meticulous investigation and thorough preparation of the State's case. The NPA hopes that this sentence will provide a measure of closure to the family and loved ones of Simon Mpayipheli and serves as a reminder that those who orchestrate and commit violent crimes for personal gain will face the full might of the law.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali

NPA Regional Spokesperson – Eastern Cape Division