Sindiso Magaqa murder: State says matter caused divisions in ANCYL

JOHANNESBURG - The State in the murder case of former African National Congress (ANC) Youth League secretary general Sindiso Magaqa said the matter has caused divisions within the league.

Advocate Elvis Gcweka made the argument in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday during the sentencing of self-confessed murderer Sibusiso Ncengwa.

Magaqa’s murder happened at a time when KwaZulu-Natal was flagged as a hub for political killings, and Gcweka claims this led to some party members suspecting each other of the murder.

Ncengwa confessed to his part in the murder earlier in June after spending eight years behind bars awaiting trial.

In the confession, he implicated a former mayor and manager from the Harry Gwala Municipality and a journalist from the news publication Isolezwe.

While his lawyer has called for leniency from the court on his sentence, the State highlighted the gravity of the loss.

“His killing or assassination left a deep scar in the ANC. Not only did the ANC lose one of the most trusted comrades and a servant of the people, his demise resulted in tension in the ANC, as comrades started to suspect each other.”