Hitman Sibusiso Ncengwa sentenced to 25 years for murder of ANCYL leader Sindiso Magaqa
Pietermaritzburg High Court hands down 25-year sentence to Sibusiso Ncengwa for Sindiso Magaqa's murder.
Image: Bongani Hans
Sibusiso Ncengwa who was convicted of the 2017 killing former ANC Youth League Secretary-General Sindiso Magaqa, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The sentencing was handed down for the following:
Count 1: Conspiracy to commit murder - 25 years
Count 2: Murder- 25 years
Count 3: Attempted murder- five years
Count 4: Attempted murder- five years
Count 5: Attempted murder - five years
Count 6: Malicious injury to property- three years
Count 7: Malicious injury to property- three years
Count 8: Malicious injury to property - three years
Count 9: Unlawful possession of fully automatic firearm- five years
Count 10: Unlawful possession of a firearm gun - five years
Count 11: Unlawful possession of ammunition - one year
The sentences in counts one, three to 11 are to run concurrently with count two.
Ncengwa entered guilty pleas to several offences, including murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court found him guilty after accepting his formal admissions.
In a victim impact statement, Lwazi Magaqa described the enduring trauma the family has faced. "His mother has not received counselling since 2017... She always cries when she sees her son on television due to the trauma," he said.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Magaqa was ambushed on July 13, 2017, while parked outside a tuck shop in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal. He and two councillors were repeatedly shot as they sat in a vehicle. Although Magaqa initially survived the attack, he later died in hospital from complications linked to his injuries.
In a signed confession, Ncengwa admitted he and his accomplices had meticulously planned the shooting.
"We followed the vehicle and waited for an opportunity. When we saw them sitting there, I got out with the rifle," Ncengwa stated. He continued: "I fired shots at the car to make sure we hit him."
Afterwards, Ncengwa confessed that they torched another vehicle to eliminate evidence.
"We poured petrol and lit it. I knew this was to cover our tracks," he explained.
He also acknowledged he did not legally own the weapons used in the crime. "I did not have a licence for the weapons," he told the court.
Magaqa, who was seen as a promising figure in the ANC Youth League and had served as its Secretary-General, was mourned widely by supporters and colleagues.
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