KEY POINTS
- South African nurse Enoch Ndou sentenced to life for family murders.
- The killings occurred during a dispute over a family home.
- Ndou showed no remorse and was banned from owning firearms.
At the Thohoyandou High Court in Limpopo, a South African nurse found guilty of killing seven family members was given a life sentence plus 90 years in jail.
Family dispute over inheritance ends in deadly violence
On Christmas Day in 2021, after a contentious argument over who owned his late father’s house in Jimmy Jones Village, Malamulele, Enoch Ndou, 55, was found guilty of shooting and killing his family members.
Court testimony claims that when tensions increased during the family get-together, Ndou committed a startling act of violence by opening fire. Among the victims were Wanga Ndou, 12 months; Rendani Winnus Ndou, 12; Ronewa Ndou, 4; Portia Mabasa, 37; Mpho Donald Ndou, 33; and Ndivhuwo Douglas Ndou, 33. While being transported to a hospital, eight-year-old Dakalo Makondo Ndou, the eighth victim, passed away.
Judge cites lack of remorse in sentencing Enoch Ndou
Judge Thogomelani Tshidada delivered Ndou’s punishment on Friday. Ndou is single and has no children. Tshidada highlighted Ndou’s lack of regret before sentencing, saying that the accused never made an effort to apologize to the victims’ surviving relatives.
“The life sentence on count one is to be served concurrently with the 15-year prison sentences on counts two through seven,” Tshidada stated. “Therefore, the accused is given an effective life sentence in prison.”
According to Iol, the seriousness of Ndou’s actions and their terrible effects on the community were both recognized in the court’s ruling. According to the judge, the murders were “a senseless and brutal act that has left an indelible mark of pain and suffering.”
According to the results of an evaluation, Ndou had no history of violent behavior, no criminal record, and no mental disease.
Ndou has been found unable to acquire or carry a firearm in accordance with Section 103(1) of the Firearms Control Act, in addition to his prison term.
Residents of Malamulele are still dealing with shock and grief as a result of the catastrophe. The court’s decision demonstrates a dedication to justice and holding violent crime offenders responsible.
