Man who bludgeoned Cape Town woman to death, hid body under his bed, gets 20-year sentence

• The court sentenced Sandile Jegwa to 20 years in prison for the murder of Cleo Diko in 2022.
• Jegwa admitted bludgeoning Diko to death.
• Action Society welcomed the sentence, saying it offered peace of mind for Diko's loved ones.

Wednesday marked an end to "425 days of pain and frustration" for the loved ones of Cleo Diko when her killer, Sandile Jegwa, was sentenced to two decades in prison.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said that, in addition to the prison term, the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court ordered officials to inform Diko's family when Jegwa became eligible for parole to allow them to make representations. 

Kaylynn Palm, the head of Action Society's action centre in the Western Cape, said Diko's decomposing body was discovered under Jegwa's bed in Mandalay, Cape Town, in January last year. 

She had been reported missing in October 2022.

Palm said the sentencing symbolised an end to "425 days of pain and frustration" for Diko's family and loved ones. 

"For 425 days, Cleo's family and friends had to face this murderer time and time again, only to be met with multiple postponements, and left the courtroom with more questions than answers. However, they refused to give up and, today, the court was packed to the rafters with the friends and loved ones of Cleo," said Palm. 

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Palm said Jegwa admitted to hitting Diko with a hammer until she lost consciousness.

He then concealed the body and left it to decompose. 

"She had a rope tied around her neck, and the body [under the bed] was covered with tiles and cement," said Palm.

Palm said the organisation and the community would have preferred a life sentence, but the 20 years would give Diko's family much-needed peace of mind.