Pietermaritzburg - A Greytown man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Friday for organising hitmen to avenge his lover's dismissal.
Acting Judge Themba Mjoli rejected Khayelihle Ndlovu's pleas for a lesser sentence, and his denial of the charges against him.
Handing down sentence, Mjoli said that after liberation in 1994, crime became so rampant that Parliament enacted minimum sentences aimed at protecting innocents from violent criminals.
According to the State's case, Ndlovu, 27, wanted revenge when his partner, who worked for a doctor, was fired from her job. The couple knew that the doctor had large sums of money at his home.
Ndlovu feared he would be recognised if he robbed the doctor himself and so he recruited two armed assailants to steal the money.
In March 2009, the assailants went to Fikile Muntuza's house, shot her dead and wounded three of her companions, presumably because Muntuza had given them an incorrect address. Muntuza was not the doctor, who was the intended target.
Ndlovu was jailed for life for the murder and received 10 years' imprisonment for each of the attempted murders of Muntuza's companions.
The assailants went to the doctor's home where they assaulted Nomthando Sizakele and took R50,000. For this, Ndlovu received a 15-year jail term.
The criminals then assaulted Sandile and Nkosinathi Danisa, and stole cellphones and a Playstation. For this Ndlovu received a second 15-year term.
The sentences would run concurrently.
Sapa