Mother Of Amantle Samane Says She Still Has No Closure After Daughter’s Killer Gets Life Sentences

The Johannesburg High Court has sentenced 25-year-old Phethe Simiao to two life terms for the rape and murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane. The Mozambican national, who pleaded guilty, also received two additional two-year sentences for kidnapping and contravening immigration laws.

Amantle’s body was discovered in Simiao’s shack in Soweto last year after he raped and strangled her. Despite his guilty plea, Judge William Karam said Simiao showed no genuine remorse, noting his silence left critical details unanswered.

Judge Highlights Unanswered Questions in Amantle Samane Brutal Case

Judge Karam stressed that Simiao’s refusal to testify left many disturbing gaps.
“His failure to testify further leaves many unanswered questions. How did he keep the victim hostage while he went to purchase a beer? How long was she kept hostage before he raped her? How long did the rape endure? How long after the rape did he murder her?” the judge asked.

The court ruled that Simiao’s guilty plea only spared the family a prolonged trial but did not provide them with the answers they desperately sought.

Mother Says She Has No Closure Despite Harsh Sentence

Amantle’s mother, Ntombizodwa Samane, said she remains deeply troubled and without closure.

“He left me with questions. I wanted to know why he did this, what pushed him because no normal person would do this. Even now, I have no closure, even though he has been handed two life sentences,” she said.

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While she hopes the sentencing acts as a warning to other perpetrators of violence, Ntombizodwa emphasised that justice alone cannot heal the pain of losing her daughter.

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