Sighs of relief and fist pumping were on full display from the gallery in the Makhanda high court on Wednesday as Lunga Nqayi was sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Eastern Cape businesswoman Nokwanda Patocka. Nqayi, 47, a former bakery driver, who was convicted of the murder on Tuesday by judge Tembekile Malusi, was further sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, to run concurrently.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs you did not love my sister. That Bible verse talks about love and you did not love her.” This is what the sister of slain Eastern Cape businesswoman Nokwanda Maguga-Patocka told Nokwanda’s killer, after reading 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 4.
Lunga Nqayi, the man accused of bashing his girlfriend, an Eastern Cape businesswoman Nokwanda Patocka to death over a year ago in Ginsberg, near Qonce, after suspecting her of having an affair, has been convicted of her premeditated murder. Nqayi was convicted in the Makhanda high court on Tuesday as Nokwanda's family of wept silently in the gallery.
The man who has been accused of the gruesome murder of Eastern Cape businesswoman Nokwanda Maguga-Patocka will spend the next week behind bars before he can apply for bail, after his case was postponed in the Qonce magistrate’s court on Wednesday. Lunga Nqayi, 49, an alleged romantic partner of the deceased, made a brief first appearance and the matter was postponed until Wednesday next week; also to allow him time to secure legal representation.