The Acting Provincial Commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal, Major General Thulani Gonya has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of Sizwe Tell Zwane Schaba (33), who was arrested for the murders of the Rafferty’s at their Normandien Farm on 30 August 2020.
“We wish to commend the investigating officers who have been painstakingly investigating this case since August last year. They have continued to persevere and remain committed to ensuring that all the perpetrators are eventually behind bars,” he said.
Zwane, who was arrested by detectives from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit on 14 February 2021, pleaded guilty at the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday and was convicted accordingly.
He was sentenced to ten years imprisonment on one count of robbery and received 25 years imprisonment each for both counts of murder. He will serve his sentence concurrently.
Zwane was the third person who was arrested for the murders. His two co-accused who were arrested on 15 October 2020, remain in custody as their trial is still pending. Detectives have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests being affected in connection with the murders.
