A man has been sentenced to three life terms at the Ladysmith Regional Court.
Police said in a statement that the 43-year-old man, Jabulani Mtshali, received the sentence for two counts of rape and murder.
Mtshali had on October 3, 2015 lured his victim Nomusa Zwane, 65, under the pretext of selling roof sheeting, into a bushy area in Madiba Drive.
While in the bushes the victim was raped and strangled by the accused. She was also severely assaulted with a hammer and succumbed to her injuries.
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Bheki Langa praised the unit for their well-prepared docket that had been presented at court.
“I welcome the sentence handed down to the accused and this will serve as a warning to other would-be criminals who are thinking of committing such crimes."
The Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit took over the investigation; it was during the investigation that Mtshali was linked to another rape case where a 10-year-old was raped in November 2014.