‘425 days of pain and frustration’ came to a harrowing end for the loved ones of Cleo Diko when her murderer, Sandile Jegwa, was handed a two decade long sentence behind bars.
Diko was reported missing in October 2022, and not long after her disappearance a major search was conducted to find the young woman.
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Diko’s lifeless body was found underneath Jegwa’s bed on 27 January 2023 in Mandalay, Cape Town. She was found with a rope tied around her neck, with tiles and cement covering her body.
The family of Cleo Diko paid for a private DNA testing to accelerate the process of finding Diko’s killer.
Jegwa confessed to heinously bludgeoning the 34-year-old mother of three with a hammer after an argument ensued that saw him hit her to the point of unconsciousness. It was reported that he let her die and then buried her body thereafter.
Kaylynn Palm, the head of Action Society’s action centre in the Western Cape, said, ‘Jegwa is a murderer with a history of violence. He was a menace to everyone around him, and even his family was afraid of his violent behavior. He deserves to rot in jail for the rest of his life.
‘He has no place in our communities, and the people of Mandalay can rest easier tonight knowing that he has been removed from society.’
Palm said that they believe heavier sentences should be handed down for crimes against women and children, especially if the perpetrator has a history of violent behaviour.
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, said that in addition to the two decades handed to Jegwa, the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court told officials to inform the family of Cleo Diko as to when Jegwa would become eligible for parole.
Diko’s mother, Linda, expressed her disappointment in the sentence given to Jegwa and said, ‘The detective of this case was questioning other guys according to the results of the DNA, but we never saw the culprits come to court. Instead, we saw Sandile entering into a plea bargain.’
Siphelele Kwinana, the victim’s friend, belives Jegwa will commit the same gruesome crimes once he is released from the prison.
‘We know that in South Africa, Sandile will be set free after 10 years and then he will come out and do exactly what he did [again].’
‘He was out on parole when he did this… he is used to jail, that is his second home,’ Kwinana added.
Kwinana explained that Jegwa and Cleo Diko were not in any sort of relationship but he tried to commit sexual acts with her a day before he dragged her into his home.
‘They were never in a relationship, she was in a relationship with her children’s father. He wanted to sleep with her for a long time, we would stand up for her whenever he grabbed her in the streets. On that day he took advantage of Cleo being alone.’
The family and friend of the victim said they will be appealing the sentence handed down to Jegwa, but also understand there is a risk to that as his sentenced could be reduced by 15 years.
Kwinana concluded by saying,’It is a risk we are willing to take because we are not happy about this. Her mom is not well. Cleo was a mother to 7-year-old twins and has a four-year-old child.’
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