The Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities welcomes the sentence handed down by the Durban High Court on Thozamile Taki convicted of killing 13 women and dumping their bodies in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
Taki was sentenced to life imprisonment for each of the 13 murders and 16 years for each of the 13 counts of robbery.
This sentence – totalling 13 life and 208 years imprisonment running concurrently is a firm sentence that is equal to atrocities and vicious nature of the crime committed against women. The sentence demonstrates the commitment within the criminal justice system to act firmly against perpetrators of gender based violence.
We commend the investigating team and prosecutors for the sterling work done to ensure successful conviction in this case and we urge them to continue with this great work on other cases of violence against women.
The ministry also appreciates Judge Ndlovu’s comment when handing down the sentence that Taki should be removed permanently from society and there should be no consideration for parole.
Taki exploited poor women who were looking for jobs, robbing them of their belongings and subsequently killing them in an extremely violent manner. Many of their bodies were found in advance state of decomposition in the sugarcane and tea plantations of Umzinto in KwaZulu-Natal and Port Saint Johns in Eastern Cape. Had the police not arrested in September 2007, he most probably would have continued his evil deeds.
Even as he was being sentenced today, Taki showed no remorse, arguing against the court proceedings and demanding that his conviction be taken for review first before sentencing. We appreciate that Judge Ndlovu noted this lack of remorse including the fact that Taki was laughing at relatives of the deceased who were crying due to the traumatic nature of the evidence that was being presented before the court on this matter.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
