The Western Cape High Court sitting in Knysna has sentenced four people to more than a decade behind bars for the premeditated murder of 23-year-old Nosipho Mafana, a severely mentally disabled woman, in a planned hit to cash in on multiple funeral policies.
Mboneleli Msila, who orchestrated the killing, and Monde Tshemese, who shot Mafana 15 times, each received two life sentences for conspiracy to commit murder and premeditated murder.
Tshemese also received five years for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The two other accused in the matter, Mbulelo Jack and Lungisile Lucas, were each sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment for both conspiracy and murder, to run concurrently.
The court heard that Msila and his wife had adopted Mafana when she was 11 years old. In 2021, Msila signed her up for a Standard Bank funeral policy worth R100,000, with a R200,000 payout for unnatural death.
In the event of an accidental death, there would not be the normal six-month waiting period, and the amount that would be paid out would be doubled.
Additional policies were taken out with FNB and Capitec Bank in early 2022, totalling R400,000 in potential payouts. Msila, his wife and sister-in-law, were named as beneficiaries.
Despite claiming the Standard Bank payout, Msila’s application was denied due to the suspicious circumstances. However, FNB and Capitec processed payouts to his sister-in-law and wife.
On 30 April 2022, Jack, Tshemese and Lucas entered the home in KwaNokuthula, Plettenberg Bay, where Mafana was sleeping and shot her 15 times.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the plan fell apart when a tin collector observed the three men when they entered the yard. He saw Lucas standing guard in the yard, and the other two men entered the house. He knew the three men as they lived in the area.
“He saw flashes of light like firecrackers from the house. He also observed the men leaving the house after numerous shots were fired. He reported the shooting incident to the investigating officer, whom he knew.”
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Nicolette Bell praised the investigation and prosecution team for their sterling work in ensuring justice for Mfana.
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