The Khayelitsha Regional Court has sentenced a man to 13 years in prison for crimes including robbery, kidnapping and extortion, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Lungisa Mafuneka (50) pleaded guilty to robbery with aggravating circumstances, two counts of kidnapping, and extortion, according to IOL. His sentences – 13 years for robbery, 10 years for each kidnapping charge, and five years for extortion – will run concurrently.
TimesLive detailed the eight-day kidnapping of Sabelo Ndwe and Melissa Aripiya in November 2022. Reportedly, the couple, who sold wigs in townships east of Cape Town, were lured to Mandela Park, Khayelitsha, by a person posing as a customer. They were abducted, assaulted, and forced to hand over wallets, bank cards and PINs.
The kidnappers initially demanded R400 000 in ransom but eventually accepted R30 000. During their captivity, the couple endured beatings and were given minimal food and water before managing to escape from a shack in Nkanini, Khayelitsha.
Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said a multidisciplinary team identified the suspects through their investigation. The victims’ vehicle was recovered, and two suspects were arrested with cash receipts and a cellphone used in the extortion.
The case of Mafuneka’s co-accused, Siviwe Yekiso, has been remanded to 14 March 2025 for plea confirmation, with Yekiso remaining in custody.
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Picture: KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA / Pexels
