Giyani - Five Limpopo villagers who were arrested and later found guilty of murder after they had set alight a woman accused of practicing witchcraft, were on Tuesday given heavy sentences by the Thohoyandou High Court.
The accused villagers were found guilty of murder earlier this month, and on Tuesday, the court sentenced Madala Nkuna, 39 and Vonani Nkuna, 24 to life imprisonment for their role in the April 2014 murder of 52-year-old Catherine Nkovani. Ntokoza Nkuna, 39, and Ernst Nkuna, 27, were both sentenced to 16 years imprisonment, while Christopher Nkuna, 32, received a sentence of 20 years.
Police said the suspects had accused Nkovani of witchcraft after a younger member of her family passed away from natural causes.
They mobilised the community at Thomo village near the Kruger National Park and assaulted and stoned the victim before dousing her body with petrol and setting her alight.
The seriously injured woman later died at Nkhesani Hospital, said police spokesperson Colonel Ronel Otto.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba welcomed the sentencing and applauded the sterling work of the investigation team.
He further expressed hope that the strong sentences would serve as a deterrent to members of the community not to accuse innocent people of wrongdoing and then taking the law into their own hands.
ANA