By Anita Dangazele
Three of the four suspects arrested for the gruesome murders of an East London shop owner and her assistant were sentenced by the Makhanda High Court on Friday after admitting to their crimes.
Zoleka Gantana, 57, and her assistant Kholosa Mpunga, 27, were kidnapped in July 2023, after five men walked into their little shop in Ncerha location, looted grocery stock and then loaded the two women into Gantana’s bakkie.
The two women were held captive for a week in a shack on a farm in Gcinisa, outside Peddie and then murdered.
According to the police, the decision to kill the two women “in the most cruel and callous manner imaginable” was made after one of the victims recognised one of the suspects.
“They were subjected to unspeakable acts of violence, including rape, before their bodies were burned and later chopped into pieces and discarded in a nearby river,” said SAPS spokesperson Priscilla Naidu.
Naidu said only four of the suspects were arrested, while the fifth is still at large. She said three of the arrested suspects pleaded guilty to charges of business robbery, robbery with a firearm, two counts each of kidnapping and murder, and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal ammunition.
The three accused — Mandla Qosho, 46, Siyanda Makaleni, 45, and Sigangela Mgwatyu, 53 — pleaded guilty in the Makhanda High Court. Qosho was sentenced to life imprisonment, while Makaleni and Mgwatyu were sentenced to 15 and 20 years respectively.
Meanwhile, the fourth suspect — Themba Dingela, 50 — pleaded not guilty and will appear in court on 14 April.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant Nomthetheleli Mene said, “we stand resolute in our commitment to protecting our communities and ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous crimes are swiftly brought to justice.
“We must all work together to combat violence against women and children and to ensure that every individual feels safe and valued.”
Pictured above: The victims, Zoleka Gantana, 57 and her assistant Kholosa Mpunga, 27.
Image source: Supplied
