The Evander Regional Court has sentenced Thubelihle Ndwandwe (29), Siyabonga Ndwandwe (29), and Muzikayifane Ndwandwe (43) to life imprisonment plus an additional 71 years each for a violent farm attack that took place in Leslie in 2022.
The three men posed as prospective buyers of cattle and were received by the farm owner’s wife and an employee. During the visit, they launched a brutal attack, strangling and stabbing the wife multiple times and binding her with cable ties.
They also threatened an employee with a firearm. Another worker witnessed the attack and managed to lock the house before fleeing to seek help from nearby farms.
“The attackers then proceeded to ransack the farmhouse in search of money and valuables. As neighbouring farmers responded to the distress call, one of them was robbed of his car keys and nearly had his cellphone stolen. The assailants fled the scene on foot with R10 000 in cash, an airgun, car keys, and a grinder. Local farmers and police swiftly mobilised a manhunt, and all three suspects were arrested later that same day,” said the National Prosecuting Authority.
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During the trial, the accused denied involvement, claiming they had been hitchhiking at the time. However, State Prosecutor Sheetal Kissoon led compelling testimony from over 30 witnesses, all of whom placed the accused at the crime scene.
In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Kissoon presented expert evidence on the prevalence and impact of farm attacks in South Africa, as well as victim impact statements detailing the severe physical and emotional trauma suffered.
The trio were found guilty on 17 charges, including attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm, pointing a firearm, housebreaking with intent to commit a crime, theft, robbery and attempted robbery.
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The court ordered certain sentences to run concurrently, including those for firearm possession, pointing of a firearm, and robbery-related charges. Furthermore, all three accused were declared unfit to possess firearms.
