'Patrick Wisani should have gotten life'

Former ANCYL leader Patrick Wisani heads back to the underground cells before he begins his 20-year prison sentence. Picture: Lindi Masinga/ANA

Former ANCYL leader Patrick Wisani heads back to the underground cells before he begins his 20-year prison sentence. Picture: Lindi Masinga/ANA

Published May 11, 2017

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Johannesburg – Yeoville community activists and family members expressed their disappointment following the 20-year sentence handed down to former ANCYL leader Patrick Wisani for his girlfriend's murder.

Wisani was on Thursday morning slapped with a 20 year sentence for the murder of Nosipho Mandleleni at the Johannesburg High court. He was also handed an additional two years, one year for assault and one year for intimidation.

The sentences will run concurrently.

The former ANCYL leader was found guilty of killing Mandleleni at their Yeoville home on November 21, 2016.

Judge Ismail Mohamed said he had taken certain factors into consideration when handing down the sentence, including the fact that Wisani was educated and a well-respected member of the community.

Mohamed said that the fact that Wisani had no prior convictions as well as the fact that he was a first time offender were also taken into account.

Despite this, Mohamed said the way the incident happened shows that the murder was not pre-meditated, but rather executed in anger and rage.

Commenting on the post-mortem, the judge said the fact that the deceased bled to death meant that she died a painful and agonising death.

Mandleleni's mother Noxolo, was not happy about the sentence saying it was too light and should have been longer.

"I feel bad about the sentence handed down, I expected a life sentence," she said.

Adding to this was community leader Maurice Smithers, who said that while the judgment was carefully considered and reasoned, it was a bit too light.

"It was a well-considered and well-reasoned judgment but it was a bit disappointing," he said.

"Perhaps a sentence closer to 30 years would have been more appropriate but at the least the process is not over."

IOL

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