KEY POINTS
- A married couple and a hitman were sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of a rape victim days before she was set to testify in court, in a case that cost just R10,000.
- Judge James Lekhuleni condemned the crime as emblematic of South Africa’s femicide crisis.
- The case has reignited calls for systemic reforms to address gender-based violence, including better witness protection and harsher penalties for perpetrators.
In a landmark ruling that underscores South Africa’s ongoing battle against femicide like gender-based violence (GBV), a couple and a hired hitman have each been sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of a rape victim just days before she was due to testify in court.
The sentencing, handed down by Judge James Lekhuleni in the Western Cape High Court, has reignited national conversations about femicide and the urgent need for systemic change.
The case involved Cebisa Bhala (the wife), Mmeli Kheswa (the husband), and Mlungisi Ntsalaz (the hitman), who were convicted in May 2024 for the murder of Kheswa’s rape victim.
IOL reports that the victim, whose identity has been withheld, was shot and killed on June 28, 2017, just one day before she was scheduled to testify against Kheswa in a rape trial. The femicide was orchestrated for a mere R10,000, highlighting the commodification of human life.
The femicide was hatched while Kheswa and Ntsalaz were both incarcerated at Pollsmoor Prison. Kheswa, a repeat offender under the Sexual Offences Act, had been detained on rape charges, while Ntsalaz was also serving time for rape.
According to court documents, Ntsalaz proposed the murder to Kheswa, suggesting that eliminating the victim would lead to the withdrawal of charges. Kheswa then contacted his wife, Bhala, who allegedly facilitated the payment and coordination of the hit.
Ntsalaz was released from prison on June 27, 2017, and carried out the murder the following day.
The victim, a young woman described as vibrant and full of potential, was gunned down in cold blood. Her death not only silenced her voice but also led to the withdrawal of charges against Kheswa, who was subsequently released from prison.
Justice delayed, but not denied
The case took a dramatic turn when investigators uncovered WhatsApp conversations between Bhala and Ntsalaz, which provided crucial evidence linking the trio to the crime. All three were arrested a month after the murder and charged with murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, and possession of ammunition.
In his sentencing, Judge Lekhuleni described the crime as “deeply unsettling” and emblematic of the broader crisis of femicide and GBV in South Africa. “The life of a vibrant young woman was brutally and abruptly ended for a sheer sum of R10,000 pursuant to a tripartite conspiracy to murder agreement concluded by the three accused,” he said.
The case has drawn attention to South Africa’s alarming rates of GBV, which have earned the country the grim distinction of being one of the most dangerous places in the world for women. According to recent statistics, a woman is murdered every three hours in South Africa, with femicide rates five times higher than the global average.
Judge Lekhuleni emphasized the need for retribution and deterrence in sentencing, stating, “Given the current levels of violence and serious crimes in our country, it seems proper that, in sentencing especially such crimes, the emphasis should be retribution and deterrence.” He added that the case warranted a strong message to society and potential offenders, calling the crime “heinous” and “repugnant.”
