The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile applauds the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit for their exceptional investigation skills in the murder case of Pasika Kwaza. This morning, Judge Gamble of the Western Cape High court sentenced Namhla Patience Kwaza who is the victim’s wife, and her co-conspirators.

In June 2016, the victim and his wife were watching television in the evening at their residence in Kuyasa, Khayelitsha when three unknown men came in, pointing firearms and demanding their cellular telephones. They took the property and shot the victim twice at close range, fatally wounding him.

The Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit thoroughly probed the matter and discovered that Namhla Patience Kwaza who was married to the deceased hired hitmen with the help of her cousin Thando Chawayi. The motive was to cash in on life insurance policies and pension benefits. They were both arrested along with two of the hitmen Sivuyile Shasha and Loyiso Ludidi who pulled the trigger.

After a trial at the Western Cape High court, Namhla Patience Kwaza was convicted of murder and defeating the ends of justice while her cousin Thando Chawayi who arranged the hitmen was convicted for murder. Sivuyile Shasha and Loyiso Ludidi were convicted for murder, robbery aggravated and possession of illegal firearm and ammunition.

Namhla Kwaza was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for murder and 18 months for defeating the ends of justice.

Thando Chawayi was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder.

Sivuyile Shasha was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years for robbery aggravated, 3 years for possession of an illegal firearm and 18 months for possession of ammunition.

Loyiso Ludidi was sentenced to life imprisonment, 15 years for robbery aggravated, 3 years for possession of an illegal firearm and 18 months for possession of ammunition.

The sentences will run concurrent with the life sentences.

In an unrelated incident, on Wednesday, 20 July 2022, Blue Downs Regional court sentenced Fernell Hess who was identified as a hitman of a criminal gang. The accused was investigated by the Anti-Gang Unit and found guilty of murder and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.

He was sentenced to 15 years for murder and 5 years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Source: South African Police Service