TRIO CONVICTED FOR THE MURDER OF BRITISH BOTANISTS
The KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court sitting in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has convicted Fatima Bibi Patel, Sayefudeen Aslam Del Vecchio, and Musa Jackson on charges of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft, and two counts of murder.
Del Vecchio was additionally convicted of malicious injury to property.
KZN NPA SpokespersonNatasha Ramkisson-Kara said the convictions relate to the kidnapping and murder of renowned British botanists, Dr Rodney Saunders and Dr Rachel Saunders, between 08 and 14 February 2018 in the Ngoya Forest, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal.
“Before travelling to the Ngoya Forest, the couple had completed filming for a BBC documentary in the Drakensberg. On 08 February 2018, the Saunders arrived in the Ngoya Forest in search of rare and unique seeds. They were travelling in a vehicle carrying their research equipment and camping gear when they were accosted by the accused.
“The couple was kidnapped and robbed of their personal belongings. The accused gained access to the banking applications on their mobile phones and proceeded to conduct numerous transactions and cash withdrawals totalling more than R700,000,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
She said the Saunders were subsequently murdered, and their bodies were discovered a week later on the banks of the Tugela River.
“In relation to the malicious injury to property conviction, the court found that in September 2017 Del Vecchio set fire to three farms belonging to Tongaat Hulett in the area between Sibaya Casino and Umdloti.
“This followed the company’s refusal to permit him to enter their farms. The fire caused extensive damage to sugarcane crops, resulting in estimated losses of approximately R2.3 million,” she said.
Ramkisson-Kara said the matter has been postponed to 19 June 2026 for sentencing proceedings. All three accused will remain in custody.