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CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR
NPA SECURES LIFE SENTENCE FOR REPEAT MURDERER
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment imposed by the Zwelitsha Regional Court on Zondwa Sithembiso Dzengwa (34) for the murder of 30-year-old Sikhumbuzo Bobe on 4 May 2020. Dzengwa is currently serving an 18-year term of imprisonment in a separate matter for the murder of his then-girlfriend, Babalwa Ngcakani, on 17 December 2023.
Evidence presented in court established that Dzengwa’s house had been broken into and several valuable household items stolen. Dzengwa conducted his own investigation and concluded that Bobe had stolen the items. He subsequently hunted for Bobe, going as far as posting messages in a Facebook group called “Proudly Zwelitsha”. When Dzengwa eventually found Bobe, he brutally assaulted him, resulting in his death.
Following a painstaking investigation and the piecing together of evidence that was difficult to obtain, police charged Dzengwa with the murder in September 2025. By then, he had already been sentenced by the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court on 2 June 2025 in the separate murder matter.
During the trial, the State led evidence from several witnesses and presented Facebook posts made by Dzengwa. The case was largely based on circumstantial evidence, which, when considered cumulatively, led to the overwhelming conclusion that Dzengwa had killed Bobe.
The court rejected Dzengwa’s denial and his claim that the deceased’s family had conspired to falsely implicate him. During cross-examination by Senior Public Prosecutor Brenhan Sam, Dzengwa also contradicted himself, rendering his version untenable.
Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Samkelo Mtwana, emphasised that the right to life is sacrosanct and cannot simply be taken away. He added that society has a legitimate expectation that those who commit heinous crimes and take the law into their own hands will face severe consequences, particularly where their conduct undermines the rule of law.
The NPA reiterates that vigilantism is not justice. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected criminal conduct to law-enforcement authorities rather than resorting to violence or taking the law into their own hands.
The NPA remains committed to vigorously prosecuting perpetrators of violent crime and ensuring that justice is delivered for victims, their families and affected communities.
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