GQEBERHA — The Gqeberha High Court sentenced 30-year-old Siphelele Ntisana, also known as “Hupa,” to multiple life imprisonment terms on Thursday, 25 June 2026, for a fatal shooting spree in Kwadwesi, Eastern Cape, that left two men dead and three others injured. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has welcomed the conviction and the resulting sentence.
The court heard that on 22 December 2024, Ntisana and an armed accomplice entered a shack at Westville Shacks in Kwadwesi, where five men were present. After Ntisana confirmed the identities of the targets, his accomplice opened fire. Bulelani Peter and Siyabulela Plaatjies were killed at the scene. Three other men survived the attack by pretending to be dead and were subsequently transported to Livingstone Hospital for medical treatment.
The surviving victims provided statements to investigators, yielding crucial information for the case. Detective Sergeant Nigel Wright of the Serious Violent Crime Investigation (SVCI) Unit in Gqeberha traced and arrested Ntisana, who later abandoned his bail application in light of overwhelming evidence.
Investigations revealed that the attack was motivated by Ntisana’s belief that Peter had previously robbed him. Ntisana had hired a hitman, identified as Lisakhanya, to carry out the shooting. Lisakhanya was later killed in an unrelated shooting incident in Motherwell in January 2025.
The Gqeberha High Court handed down the following sentences, all of which will run concurrently:
– Two counts of murder: Life imprisonment each.
– Three counts of attempted murder: Life imprisonment each.
– Two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years’ imprisonment each.
– One count of attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years’ imprisonment.
– One count of unlawful possession of a firearm: 15 years’ imprisonment.
– One count of unlawful possession of ammunition: Five years’ imprisonment.
– One count of possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an offence: 15 years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, the court declared Ntisana unfit to possess a firearm.