…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
After a prolonged legal process, a mother and her daughter have been sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and murder of another mother and her 12-year-old daughter in Newlands West, Durban.
Motive: Belief in Witchcraft Leads to Gruesome Crime
Slindile Pamela Zamisa, aged 45, and her daughter Andile Pollet Zamisa, aged 25, were found guilty of the brutal murder of Smangele Simamane and her young daughter, Sbongakonke Mthembu.
The tragic incident occurred in October 2020.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Zamisas and the victims lived in the same neighborhood.
On the day of the crime, they invited Smangele and Sbongakonke to their house, deceitfully claiming they wanted to resolve a dispute involving one of their younger family members.
Once inside their home, the Zamisas accused the victims of practicing witchcraft and allegedly killing their male relative, Bheki Ngcobo.
The victims were held captive for several hours and subjected to torture.
Smangele endured physical assaults and had boiling water poured on her body and into her ears.
Ultimately, both victims were killed, and their bodies were disposed of in the KwaDabeka area.
The bodies of Smangele and Sbongakonke were discovered in a suitcase along Lwandle Drive in KwaDabeka, near the uMngeni River, on October 6, 2020.
The prosecution presented testimonies from two co-accused who had pleaded guilty to the crimes, as well as evidence from a medical doctor confirming the cause of death for each victim.
During victim impact statements, the bereaved family expressed the profound devastation and emptiness caused by the brutal murders.
Conclusion:
In a significant ruling, a Durban High Court has sentenced a mother and her daughter to life imprisonment for the kidnapping and murder of a mother and her 12-year-old daughter.
The motive behind the crime was the Zamisas’ belief that the victims were involved in witchcraft and responsible for the death of a male relative.
The gruesome nature of the crime shocked the community, and the victims’ family described the profound loss they have experienced.