Eastern Cape man jailed 20 years after witchcraft‑linked arson kills infant

A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after a High Court in Mthatha found him guilty of murder in connection with a witchcraft-linked arson attack that killed a one‑year‑old infant.

Sentence and convictions

The Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, Mthatha, handed down the sentence on Monday, 27 July 2026. The court convicted Yongama Notshila of murder and sentenced him to 20 years for that count. The court also convicted him of attempted murder (five years), possession of dangerous weapons (three years) and two counts of arson (five years each). The court ordered the sentences on other counts to run concurrently with the murder sentence.

What happened

In his guilty-plea explanation contained in an agreement with the State, Notshila admitted that he believed his aunt was responsible for the ill health of his uncle and grandmother, imputing witchcraft. The incident took place on 13 September 2020, when he armed himself with a spear and a bush knife and went to his aunt’s homestead.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tiyali said that on arriving at the homestead, Notshila encountered his aunt’s two children, who ran towards one of the rondavels. He hacked one of them with the bush knife, but both children escaped to a neighbouring homestead. Notshila then set two grass-thatched rondavels alight. A one-year-old girl who had been sleeping in one of the rondavels died in the blaze.

Mental-health findings and mitigation

Tiyali said the trial was delayed after Notshila demonstrated mental illness following his arrest. He was referred to Fort England Hospital for medical observation, where a panel found he had a mental condition due to substance use disorder but had capacity to understand court proceedings and make a proper defence.

In mitigation, the defence told the court that Notshila had been in custody since September 2020, was a youthful first offender, had a poor background after losing his mother at 14 and that substance abuse played a role in the commission of the crime. The court said it considered those factors when imposing sentence.

Prosecutors respond

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the Eastern Cape, Advocate Samkelo Mtwana, welcomed the sentence, saying it demonstrates that perpetrators of violent crimes will be held to account.

“The sentence demonstrates that perpetrators of violent crimes will be held fully accountable for their actions against vulnerable members of society.”

The NPA said it remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of serious violent crimes are successfully prosecuted and that justice is delivered for victims, their families, and affected communities.