After killing three men in a hit-and-run late in 2006, a former local DJ has now been sentenced to 12 years behind bars.
After killing three men in a hit-and-run late in 2006, a former local DJ has now been sentenced to 12 years behind bars.
On Tuesday the Grahamstown Regional Court found Luyanda Mona guilty on three counts of culpable homicide, failing to stop his vehicle after the accident, failing to ascertain the nature and extent of any injury sustained by any person, and failing to render assistance to the injured persons.
The incident happened in November 2006 in Nompondo Street, Joza, where three friends were killed – Ayanda Liwani, Zamile Makafe and Sipho Stamper, all in their 30s. Two of the men died at the scene, while the other died later in hospital.
When delivering Mona's sentence, Magistrate Onica van Pappendorf said the incident was tragic and had a severe impact on the families of the victims, as well as Mona. “The children of the deceased will be raised by their extended families,” she said. “It's a tragic incident which took the lives of young men."
The magistrate went on to say that Mona should have been charged with murder, not culpable homicide, because he had ample time to avoid the collision and the men he killed had been visible to him. People are losing their lives due to negligent drivers, Van Pappendorf said, before ordering that Mona's driver's licence be cancelled for a period of six months.
Family members of the victims spoke to Grocott's Mail and said that they felt the justice system had failed them. Liwani's younger sister, Nomamfengu Liwani, said the sentence didn't give the family any closure and her brother had been the backbone of their family. “We think [Mona] got away with a light sentence. I will never see my brother again, and he will be able to see his family again,” she said.
Mona's attorney, Mzuphela Yeko lodged an application for leave to appeal both the conviction and sentence which was dismissed by van Pappendorf.
