A picture of the couple. Glen and Vida Rafferty. Picture: Facebook
Durban - The Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Doctor Fikane Ngwenya and Sibongiseni Madondo to life and 21 years’ imprisonment each for the robbery and murder of a couple in Normandien in 2020.
The pair were convicted and sentenced for the murders of Glen and Vida Rafferty, who were killed on their farm in Normandien in the Newcastle area.
According to the NPA’s provincial spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, Ngwenya and Madondo were convicted on charges of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and two counts of murder.
Ramkisson-Kara said that in August 2020 the armed men broke into the Raffertys’ home while they were out visiting friends.
“The men stole cellphones, jewellery, a laptop computer, a computer screen, and a DVD recorder. They also tried to break into the safes in the house but were unable to do so. So they then decided to wait for the couple to return, with the intent of forcing them to open the safes.
“On their return, the couple were accosted by the men. Both Glen and Vida were shot multiple times and died at the scene. The men also shot Rafferty’s pet dog. Following this, they loaded the stolen items into Rafferty’s car and drove off.”
She added that in court the State, represented by Senior State Advocate Attie Truter, led evidence in aggravation of sentence.
She said Truter led the testimony of Rafferty’s son, who told the court about the day he found his parents’ bodies.
He said that he had worked on the farm with them, but had to sell the farm following their deaths as it was too painful to live on the property.
Ngwenya and Madondo were sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for housebreaking, 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and life imprisonment for each of the murders. They were also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Ramkisson-Kara.