Three guilty over Betty Ketani's murder

17 February 2016 - 16:14 By TMG Digital

Three men have been convicted of killing Thandiwe Betty Ketani‚ a chef at a popular Johannesburg restaurant‚ nearly 17 years after she disappeared. Carrington Laughton was found guilty in the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday of kidnapping and murdering Ketani‚ while brothers and former policemen David and Carel Ranger were found guilty of culpable homicide and kidnapping.Laughton was also convicted of the attempted kidnapping of another woman who worked with Ketani‚ Ruth Mncube.Ketani worked as a chef at Rosebank Thai restaurant Cranks when she disappeared in May 1999. There was no trace of the Queenstown-born woman's whereabouts until thirteen years later‚ when a letter penned by Laughton and confessing to Ketani's murder was discovered hidden in a Johannesburg house.A few small bones were discovered in the garden of the house and these were later identified as Ketani's. Her body lay buried in the garden under flower beds for five years before it was dug up and thrown in a river.The motive for her murder may have been trouble with her employers at the restaurant.Three other men had earlier pleaded guilty to being involved in her death and testified in exchange for lighter sentences. Laughton and the Ranger brothers had pleaded not guilty.TMG Digital/TMG Courts and Law..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.