EASTERN CAPE – The two accused arrested for the murder of Anne Smit (86) were sentenced today, 3 June 2020 in the Port Elizabeth High court.
Sizwe Jika (28) and Junior Lungisa (20) were found guilty and sentenced for murder, housebreaking and theft as well as aggravated robbery. In May 2018 Anne Smit was brutally assaulted when the accused broke into her Martha Street house in Kamma Park. She eventually succumbed to her injuries later in hospital.
In July 2018, Lungisa was arrested in Missionvale and charged for the murder. Both accused were positively linked to the murder. Jika was arrested in October 2018 in Aliwal North.
Today, Jika received the following sentencing in respect of the murder of Ann Smit:
Murder: 25 years of which 5 years was suspended
Housebreaking and theft: 10 years
Aggravated Robbery: 20 years.
Lungisa was sentenced as follows:
Murder: 25 years of which 5 years was suspended
Housebreaking and Theft: 3 years
Aggravated Robbery: 15 years
The sentences for both accused will run concurrently so effectively they will serve 20 years each in prison. Jika is currently serving a 16 year sentence for 6 housebreakings cases committed between January 2011 to July 2018 in the Kabega Park, Humewood and Mount Road areas. Jika is also linked to two other murder cases committed in May and July 2018. He will be appearing in court on 3 July 2020 for these cases.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga commended the investigating officer, D/W/O Rudolph Baxter on his sterling investigation. “Successful convictions of criminal cases is dependent on an array of police components working together. High quality investigations like this demand a thorough and complete case docket in order to secure a sound prosecution. Criminals such as these are a danger to society and must be removed and placed in prison where they belong”, added Lt Gen Ntshinga.
