Rapist was 'sweetest, kindest' man
2011-03-13 14:37
Johannesburg - He was considered to be the
sweetest and kindest of men, but he raped and strangled three women and
left their bodies to decompose in the fields of Orange Farm.
This
week David Nocela (32), father of a six-year-old child, was given
three life sentences for the crimes he committed over three months in
2008.
He was found guilty of the murders of Joyce Mkhwanazi (24), Thembelani Nkuna (22) and Asanda Mhlanga (23).
According
to evidence in court, Mkhwanazi and Mhlanga were Nocela’s girlfriends.
He was caught after he made calls from two of his victims’ cellphones
after their murders.
Speaking at the Vereeniging circuit of the
North Gauteng High Court, Mhlanga’s aunt, Nontomzana Sithela, said she
had never thought of her niece’s boyfriend as a possible serial killer.
Fooled everyone
“He led people around him to believe he was a caring man, while he was actually a wolf in sheep’s skin,” she said.
“Asanda
was a very nice girl who cared about everyone. She wanted so much to
become a singer. I now listen to her music whenever I miss her and want
to get close to her.
“This killer called her while I was at home
with her. She left and never returned. A month later we found her
decomposed body.”
Sithela’s cousin, Hanica Thibane, added: “When
family members celebrated their birthdays he would send messages
wishing them well.”
Abram Segale (29), Nocela’s friend of 10 years, reeled in shock when he found out about his friend’s barbaric murders.
“He was a kind guy and I did not think he was capable of doing that.
“In all the time I have been his friend, I am still to see his bad side,” he said.
“In
March 2008 he told me his girlfriend had been raped and killed. As a
friend I comforted him. I never for once thought he was the one who did
it.
“He even attended Joyce’s funeral, where he took pictures.”
Struggling
Nkuna’s parents, Lazarus and Constance Nkuna, are still struggling to come to terms with the death of their daughter.
“She was my only daughter and life is so miserable without her,” Constance said.
“She had two kids and when she was killed the youngest was only six months old and the other was two years old.
“We will never get our daughter back, but at least the thought of him in prison will help to bring us closure.”
Elizabeth Mkhwanazi, Joyce’s mother, did not attend the sentencing.
Judge Boisie Mbha said the victims’ hands were tied behind their backs before they were raped and strangled.
Mbha
said although Mhlanga’s post-mortem had failed to conclusively show the
cause of death, the circumstances were similar to those in the other two
murders.
“I do not have the slightest doubt that you strangled her as well,” said the judge.
Mbha
said Nocela’s refusal to disclose his reasons for committing the crimes
showed that he had no remorse and there was therefore no chance of
rehabilitation.
Nocela was also found guilty of the 2002 rape of a 15-year-old.
The
judge refused defence counsel advocate Pieter du Plessis’s application
for leave to appeal, saying there was no indication that another court
might reach a different conclusion.
Nocela will serve his sentences concurrently.
