Antoinette Ndishishi pleased with ex-partner Conga's life sentence for rape, attempted murder

JOHANNESBURG - A woman whose ex-partner was found guilty of rape and attempted murder after failing to disclose his HIV status and then infecting her, said that she was pleased after he was sentenced to life behind bars.

The Pretoria Magistrates Court in June convicted former SANDF member, Leon Santos Conga, of the rape and attempted murder of Antoinette Ndishishi, who has consented to being identified.

He was also sentenced to life in prison, with the court finding that he had shown no remorse and highlighting the devastation his crimes had wrought on Ndishishi.

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"I feel very happy, especially that I had to fight for seven years to get the justice that I was looking for."

Antoinette Ndishishi was hoping that Conga would be given one life sentence for rape and one for attempted murder, with this being the current minimum prescribed sentence for both crimes.

When it comes to attempted murder, though, the legislation was only enacted in 2022 and the court on Wednesday found it couldn’t give him life for the offence because it was committed several years earlier, so he instead got ten years.

He did, however, get life for rape in the end, which Ndishishi said, was good enough.

"I’m still happy with what she decided, so I cannot overrule on her decision. So it’s still a good enough verdict that she gave."

Ndishishi is hopeful that the conclusion of the court process will finally bring her some closure and that she can now continue with her life.