Double life sentences have been handed to the convicted killers of DA councillor Johannes Baatjies and his business partner.

Five men who stood trial in the Northern Cape High Court for the murder in 2016 have been found guilty and were sentenced on Friday, says Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha.

The 49-year-old Baatjies, a former Danielskuil ward councillor in the Kgatelopele municipality, was found dead on the main road between Danielskuil and Postmasburg in August 2016. He had been shot twice in the head and once in the torso. 

"At the time of his death, he was with his friend Jeffrey Nose, 31, who was also shot in the face and unfortunately passed on after seven days of the fateful incident. The deceased had been lured to a non-existent business meeting which he took his business associate with," said Ramovha.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of Richard Magawu, 32, within 48 hours of the murder. Further investigations led to the arrest of others - Charles Mpondomisa, 42, Matthews Legodi, 52, Richard Hasan, 36, and Frank Baxane,34, in the two months after the murder. 

Magawu was sentenced to 36 years imprisonment and the other four accused received double life sentences.

"Baxane and Mpondomisa received an additional four years imprisonment each for possession of firearm and ammunition," Ramovha said.