Businessman and former Matsapha United boss Sipho Shongwe has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of prominent businessman Victor Gamedze.
Shongwe was found guilty of orchestrating Gamedze’s assassination, a crime that shocked the nation and sent shockwaves through both the football and business communities.
Gamedze was shot twice in the head at the Galp Filling Station in Ezulwini on January 14 2018, as he returned from Somhlolo National Stadium.
Following an intensive investigation by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), Shongwe was arrested five days later at the Ngwenya Border Gate.
Having already spent nearly eight years in custody since his 2018 arrest, Shongwe appeared before the High Court for sentencing following a marathon trial and his conviction in October 2023.
During the trial, the State brought in Mbuso ‘Ncaza’ Nkosi, who was the triggerman, and Simphiwe ‘Tata’ Ngubane, as accomplices witnesses, both of whom testified that they had been hired by Shongwe to carry out the hit.
Delivering the sentence, Judge Nkosinathi Maseko ordered that the 50 year sentence be backdated to the date of Shongwe’s arrest.
Shongwe was represented by Advocate Johan Basson, instructed by Attorney Sanele Mabila of S Mabila in association with TL Dlamini and Associates while representing the State was Advocate Michael Hellens, under the instruction of Principal Crown Counsel Macebo Nxumalo.
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