A 24-year-old man, who while awaiting trial managed to escape detention but was recaptured, will serve two life sentences for the murder of two schoolgirls in July 2022. 

This week, the Ixopo Regional Court sentenced Baphumelele Zulu for the crimes which occurred in the Ngwagwane area near Creighton, KwaZulu-Natal.

Zulu was sentenced to a further eight years’ imprisonment for escaping from lawful custody. The sentences will run concurrently said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara. 

The deceased girls, Amanda Zulu and Minenhle Buthelezi, were Grade 12 schoolgirls who were renting a house within a homestead in the Ngwagwane area. They were renting there so that they could be closer to their school.

Ramkisson-Kara said: “On the evening of 30 July 2022, both complainants were attacked at the house. Following the incident, Amanda was found bleeding outside the house, and since she was still alive, she was taken to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Minenhle’s body was found further away in a ditch in a field. Both complainants had been brutally assaulted on their heads with an unknown object. Zulu was arrested after a family member handed him over to the police.”

In court, prosecutor Siphosenkosi Dlamini led the evidence of the people who lived at the homestead where the complainants were renting, as well as the DNA chain of evidence. 

“The police officials who were involved in the pointing out also testified in court. While conducting the pointing out, Zulu had escaped from custody and was rearrested a few hours later. For this charge, the State presented the evidence of the two police officials who had accompanied Zulu to conduct the pointing out.

“In aggravation of sentence, Dlamini led the testimonies of the complainants’ family members, who told the court how the incident had affected their lives. Amanda’s father told the court that their entire family had been negatively impacted by the incident. Minenhle’s aunt told the court that Minenhle’s grandmother, who was her (Minenhle’s) primary caregiver, was deeply saddened by the incident and has since fallen ill,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

Both families expressed their confusion as to the motive behind the killings. They said that Zulu was not remorseful and that he had killed defenceless women.

Zulu was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment for each count of murder and eight years’ imprisonment for escaping from lawful custody.

He will serve an effective sentence of life imprisonment. 

“This sentence underscores the seriousness with which the justice system views crimes of this nature. The accused in this matter snuffed out the lives of two young women. The NPA remains resolute in our pursuit of justice on behalf of the victims of crime,” said Ramkisson-Kara. 

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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