{
  "id": 9697773,
  "title": "Hitman jailed for 30 years in murder plot allegedly orchestrated by victim’s wife",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/hitman-jailed-for-30-years-in-murder-plot-allegedly-orchestrated-by",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T04:11:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/hitman-jailed-30-years-murder-plot-allegedly-orchestrated-victims-wife/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mongi Mvengenya, a convicted hitman on parole for a previous murder, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the 2025 killing of Sibusiso Goqwana, allegedly orchestrated by Goqwana's wife. Mvengenya appeared in the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Port St Johns, where he pleaded guilty to his role in the murder. The incident occurred on November 19, 2025, at Goqwana's home in Flagstaff, Eastern Cape, where an armed intruder entered and allegedly demanded information about Sibusiso's romantic relationship with his brother's wife. Upon hearing this, the intruder shot Goqwana three times before fleeing. Police investigations led to the discovery of Mvengenya's involvement through his cellphone, which contained a contact labeled \"Nkabi yam,\" believed to refer to a hitman. Forensic evidence linked Mvengenya to a firearm found at the crime scene. The widow, Nompumelelo Goqwana, is scheduled to stand trial on March 15, 2027, and is alleged to have masterminded the murder. She is expected to testify in terms of section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) commended the collaboration between police and life insurance investigators in the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the heinous crime, which left three children without their father.",
  "summary": "At the time of the offence, he was on parole following a conviction for another murder committed in 2006.",
  "key_points": [
    "Mongi Mvengenya sentenced to 30 years for 2025 murder",
    "Wife Nompumelelo Goqwana to stand trial March 15, 2027",
    "Police investigation linked Mvengenya to crime scene firearm"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The conviction and sentencing of the hitman shifts the spotlight to the alleged mastermind, the victim's wife, who faces trial and potentially severe consequences if found guilty of orchestrating the murder.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}