A man was jailed for 20 years yesterday for hiring a gunman to kill his granny.

A man was jailed for 20 years yesterday for hiring a gunman to kill his granny.

Sibusiso Molefe, 31, said he did it because he suspected his grandmother of killing his sister through witchcraft, and was told that he was her next victim.

He pleaded guilty to the murder of his 89-year-old grandmother in the Pietermaritzburg high court. He said that his actions were spurred by anger at her actions, fear for his life and his belief in witchcraft.

In September 2006, his sister died and his family suspected that her death was as a result of witchcraft practised by their grandmother, Moletsoso Molefe.

A family meeting was held and the grandmother was confronted about the deaths of his sister and other relatives.

Molefe said his grandmother replied: "More was to come and that you haven't seen much."

He said he visited several traditional healers who said he would be the next victim.

At his sister's cleansing ceremony, the family decided that his grandmother should be burnt to death. An attempt to do so failed.

Molefe said: "Two days later another family meeting decided that I should kill her because I was going to be her next victim. I was reluctant to kill my grandmother and suggested that we hire someone else."

He said he is remorseful for his act and would take responsibility for it. - Sapa