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Three get life for murder of two girls in Centurion
The Pretoria High Court has sentenced three Zimbabwean nationals to two life terms each for the murder of two Olievenhoutbosch girls. Edison Ngamiko (38), Amos Hassan Masiya (38), and Edron Panashe Chisanako (39) were also sentenced to 10 years in prison each for attempted murder and 12 months for being in the country illegally. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana stated that the charges stemmed from an incident on February 17, 2023.
Mahanjana explained that the trio had encountered three girls aged 15, 16, and 23 at Mashanganeng Tavern in Olievenhoutbosch. The girls had initially requested money from the men to purchase alcohol, and after providing them with R40, the accused complied with an additional request for R20 to pay a male companion.
Later that night, as the girls were leaving the tavern, Chisanako demanded sexual favors from the 15-year-old. When she refused and the 16-year-old reprimanded him, Chisanako shot the 16-year-old in the neck, causing her immediate collapse. He then proceeded to shoot the other two girls multiple times, resulting in their deaths at the scene.
Mahanjana mentioned that Ngamiko accidentally got shot during the chaos and, upon realizing the 16-year-old was still alive, attempted to finish the job but ran out of bullets. The surviving victim crawled home and reported the incident, leading to the discovery of the bodies by the police.
According to Mahanjana, Ngamiko was arrested three days later on February 20, while receiving treatment for his gunshot wound. Masiya was apprehended on October 9 on unrelated charges but later linked to the murder. Chisanako was identified by Masiya and apprehended the next day on October 10.
During the trial, all three pleaded not guilty, with Ngamiko and Masiya acknowledging the incident but placing blame on Chisanako. Chisanako denied being present that day. Prosecutor Advocate David Molokomme presented compelling evidence, including witness testimonies, establishing the trio’s common purpose in committing the crimes.
During sentencing, the defense argued for leniency based on family responsibilities in Zimbabwe. Molokomme, however, advocated for life sentences, highlighting the lack of remorse and previous convictions for violent crimes by the defendants.
Molokomme emphasized the emotional trauma inflicted, as revealed by a Victim Impact Statement, and the Acting Judge concurred with the State’s position, noting the lack of remorse and the brutal nature of the act. The judge stressed the court’s duty to protect society from such violence.
The NPA viewed the sentencing as a crucial step towards justice, signaling a strong stance against violent crimes and an ongoing commitment to combating gender-based violence and ensuring citizen safety.
