Nicholas Ncama

Case record: Nicholas Lungisa Ncama

Background

Nicholas Lungisa Ncama was a South African serial killer who was convicted in 1997 of 3 murders and sentenced to life in prison. His victims came from the Port Elizabeth area of the Eastern Cape.

Ncama raped and strangled his victims. Some of the victims were or were related to notable personalities in the Eastern Cape.

The offence

Murder of Constable Luyanda Ngcizela (21)

Ncama’s first victim was Constable Luyanda Ngcizela (21), a local policewoman. Ncama strangled her with electrical wire. Her body was found by a bus stop in Empa, near to Mthatha on May 28, 1997.

Murder of Nompumelelo Mpushe (26)

Ncama murdered provincial legislature secretary Nompumelelo Mpushe (26) on June 1, 1997. Her body was found near Fort Jackson.

Murder of Cynthia Ndlaku and Prasella Dayal (41), and their daughter Rishmi (5)

Ncama’s next victims included Cynthia Ndlaku, the wife of a Port Elizabeth Methodist minister. Ncama also murdered Prasella Dayal (41) and her daughter Rishmi (5), both of East London.

Murder of step-daughter Sonia Zinto (15)

Ncama’s last murder was that of his step-daughter Sonia Zinto (15). Ncama raped and strangled her and left her semi-naked in an empty room in KwaZakhele in October 1997.

At sentencing, the court treated Sonia Zinto’s killing and subsequent sexual assault as “despicable”.

Investigation

Ncama was arrested in November 1997 after a three-month police hunt in connection with several murders around Port Elizabeth.

A relative said that, at one stage, Ncama studied for the ministry in KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth. The relative also said that Ncama’s wife was a teacher at Elliotdale.

Investigating officer Sergeant Loyiso Mdingi, of the Umtata murder and robbery unit, said that Const Ngcizela’s service pistol had been recovered. Mdingi said that Ncama took police to the scene where the policewoman was killed.

Arrest

Nicholas Lungisa Ncama appeared briefly in the district court at Umtata in connection with the death of a Bisho-based policewoman in May. He appeared while wearing heavy legirons and was not asked to plead. Magistrate L Madikizizela remanded him in custody until January 7.

Constable Luyanda Ngcizela (21) was found dead at a bus stop at Empa near Umtata on May 28. A piece of electric wire was tied around her neck.

He was linked to five other murders in East London, Bisho and King William’s Town.

Investigating officer Sergeant Loyiso Mdingi said Ncama took police to the scene where the policewoman was killed.

Ncama previously appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court and was due to appear in the East London court soon on other charges.

Escape

On April 4, 1998, Nicholas Lungisa Ncama escaped from police custody.

The escape occurred while he was with investigating officer Inspector Tommie Jafta of the Port Elizabeth murder and robbery unit, who was following up further leads in the Debe Nek area.

Police launched an immediate search that continued through the weekend.

Recapture

Community support and quick police action resulted in the recapture of Ncama in King William’s Town late on April 6, 1998.

Senior Superintendent Garry Neuwenhuis said that Insp Jafta received information that Ncama had been spotted in the area. Insp Anthony Belling and Sergeant Benson Booi of the dog unit, with Sgt Hector Barnes of the detective branch, raced to the township.

They saw a man running from dense bush up a hill towards the main road to Alice. Insp Jafta and Sgt Barnes chased him on foot for about a kilometre while the dog unit members circled towards the road to cut off his escape. Community members ran towards where Ncama was hiding to assist police. Once cornered, Ncama surrendered.

Supt Neuwenhuis said Ncama now faced an additional charge of escaping from custody along with several murder charges.

Ncama was under close police guard at the King William’s Town police station. He was to be taken back to Port Elizabeth and appear in court shortly.

Supt Neuwenhuis said Insp Jafta would discuss with the head of the detective branch in Port Elizabeth the matter of paying out the R20 000 reward offered for Ncama’s rearrest.

Trial

Verdict and counts

At trial, Ncama was found guilty on three counts of murder and on one each of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault.

The sentencing report later specified that he was found guilty on three counts of murder (Ngcizela, Mpushe & Zanto), 1 count of rape, 1 count of indecent assault (Zanto) and 1 count of attempted rape.

Sentencing

Sentence on December 17, 1998

On December 17, 1998, in Grahamstown, Ncama was sentenced to life imprisonment plus an effective 42 years in jail.

The court granted leave to appeal against the life sentence, against one of the sentences for murder, and against another of rape.

The life sentence was given for the murder and indecent assault of his 15-year-old step-daughter, Sonia Zanto.

Judge Lex Mpati made the following remarks at sentencing:

“She loved and trusted you as her father and you lured her into a flat and mercilessly strangled her to death after sexually abusing her. I cannot but imagine her pleas for mercy as you tightened the rope around her neck.
“Even if she could not cry out because of the constriction the plea would have been in her eyes -- looking directly at you as you slowly killed her. In my view you are a danger and threat to society.”

In dealing with the rape sentence, Judge Mpati said:

“Rape is a very serious offence, constituting as it does the brutal humiliating invasion of the privacy and dignity of another person.
“Women are entitled to their rights and the court has a very clear duty to ensure that protection and we shall show no mercy to those who seek to invade those rights.”

Additional terms and concurrency details

Ncama drew 10 years for the rape.

He drew two 20-year terms for two counts of murder and four years for attempted rape.

He was also sentenced to three years on three counts of theft.

Two of the four years for attempted rape ran concurrently with the ten years for rape, and 12 months for the charge of theft also ran concurrently.

Ten years on the second murder count ran concurrently with the first murder sentence, and two years imposed for two counts of theft also ran concurrently.

The effective prison sentence was 42 years on top of the life sentence.

The report described the murder sentence as two terms of 20 years for:

• the murders of an Umtata policewoman, Ms Luyanda Nguzela (21) on May 28;
• and the murders of a Bisho secretary, Ms Nompumelelo Mpushe (26) four days later.

The report also stated that the court gave the life sentence for the murder and indecent assault of his 15-year-old step-daughter, Sonia Zanto.

Appeals

Leave to appeal against the life sentence was granted. Leave to appeal against one of the sentences for murder was granted. Leave to appeal against another of the sentences for rape was granted.

Outcome

Ncama received a life sentence plus an effective 42 years in jail on December 17, 1998.

He was convicted on three counts of murder, one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, and one count of attempted rape.

Aftermath

At sentencing, the report described that Ncama stood with his head bowed and did not display any of the bizarre behaviour he had when convicted. It also stated that he “went berserk” and had to be restrained by court orderlies.

It stated that he had shown no remorse for any of his crimes except for the killing of his step-daughter.

Timeline

• May 28, 1997 — Constable Luyanda Ngcizela (21) was found dead at a bus stop in Empa near Umtata; a piece of electric wire was tied around her neck.
• June 1, 1997 — Ncama murdered provincial legislature secretary Nompumelelo Mpushe (26); her body was found near Fort Jackson.
• October 1997 — Ncama raped and strangled his step-daughter Sonia Zinto (15) and left her semi-naked in an empty room in KwaZakhele.
• November 1997 — Ncama was arrested after a three-month police hunt in connection with several murders around Port Elizabeth.
• April 4, 1998 — Ncama escaped from police custody.
• May 28, 1997 — Constable Luyanda Ngcizela (21) murder was listed in sentencing as occurring on this date.
• April 6, 1998 — Community support and quick police action resulted in Ncama’s recapture in King William’s Town late in the afternoon.
• December 9, 1997 — Ncama appeared briefly in Umtata district court in connection with the death of Constable Luyanda Ngcizela; magistrate remanded him until January 7.
• December 17, 1998 — Ncama was sentenced in Grahamstown to life imprisonment plus an effective 42 years in jail.

Other details

• The report stated that Ncama escaped while with investigating officer Inspector Tommie Jafta.
• Ncama was described as 29 in the recapture report and as 30 in the sentencing report.
• At recapture, Supt Neuwenhuis said Ncama faced an additional charge of escaping from custody along with several murder charges.
• Constable Luyanda Ngcizela’s body was found at a bus stop at Empa near Umtata; the sentencing report referred to “Umtata policewoman” and stated the date May 28.