Sunday, June 30, 2024 - An Eastern Cape couple and their three accomplices have received lengthy prison sentences for conspiring to murder an employee to claim funeral policy payouts.
The couple employed the victim, who lived on the same street
in Lingelihle, Nxuba (formerly Cradock), in 2021.
In October 2022, the victim and her boyfriend were attacked
in their home. Her boyfriend was fatally stabbed, while she was stabbed and
raped but survived to testify against the assailants.
This week, the high court in Makhanda, sitting in Nxuba,
sentenced Zizipho Pani, 34, her husband Siyathemba James, 39, their relative
Sinethemba Pani, 34, and Sizwesethu Jonas, 34, to life imprisonment plus 15
years for their roles in the crimes. Masixole Sokoyi, 19, a minor at the time
who raped the woman, received a 25-year prison sentence.
Judge Nozuko Mviko highlighted the importance of imposing
deterrent sentences for crimes motivated by insurance payouts.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali
revealed that Zizipho Pani orchestrated the scheme. She had taken out funeral
policies with Standard Bank and Absa in 2021 that would pay R200,000 upon the
victim's death. Pani promised the men R50,000 to kill the victim.
Despite being left for dead, the woman managed to crawl to
neighbours who called for an ambulance. She was able to identify her attackers.
The perpetrators initially fled but were later taken to a
native doctor in Cookhouse by Zizipho Pani and her husband. Community members
intervened, requiring police to rescue them. They were subsequently arrested.
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