This is following an incident on December 21, 2024 when Morgan and her sister attended a party at Cork Trust, Bushbuckridge and Sithole arrived and found them consuming alcohol. He asked Morgan to accompany him to her home, claiming he needed to fetch something. When she refused, an altercation ensued. Sithole then forcibly dragged her away and, while walking, he assaulted her before diverting from the route and headed toward his own residence.

The following morning, Sithole drowned Morgan in a nearby dam before taking her back to his house. Realising that she was still alive and vomiting profusely, he asked his brother-in-law to seek help so they could take her to the hospital. While the brother-in-law was away, he strangled her to death and fled the scene. The police were notified, and investigations led to his arrest a few days later.

READ | Policewoman arrested for husband’s murder

Despite pleading not guilty, Sithole was convicted based on strong circumstantial evidence. State Advocate Fedile Tsotetsi led credible evidence from several witnesses who testified about the abuse the deceased was subjected to, including the pathologist who examined the body of the deceased. A postmortem report confirming the cause of death as consistent with asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck was presented. The court accepted state witnesses as credible and rejected the accused’s version.

In aggravation of sentence, Advocate Tsotetsi highlighted the prevalence of domestic violence and femicide in the country, stressing that the accused showed no remorse for his actions. Victim impact statements, compiled by the deceased’s mother and the two siblings with the assistance of the Court Preparation Officer Nomfundo Mokoena, detailed the ongoing trauma and grief experienced because of the crime.

ALSO READ | https://mpmirroronline.co.za/policewoman-fatally-stabbed-by-husband/

During sentencing, the court found no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment for murder. Sithole was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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Nkosi was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend, Noxolo Portia Mazibuko, and three counts of rape. The two had been in a domestic relationship and shared a child. Between October 2017 and September 2023, Nkosi terrorised women in Nhlazatshe. One of his rape victims was his ex-girlfriend, while the other two were attacked as they returned home from local taverns.

On 14 October 2017, the accused attacked his ex-girlfriend at a local shop. He dragged her outside, assaulted her, and threatened her with a knife before forcing her to his residence, where he raped her. She later escaped and reported the matter at a nearby medical centre, where she was examined.

On 31 October 2021, another victim was returning home from a tavern when she accepted a lift in a vehicle in which the accused was a passenger. After she alighted near her home, Nkosi followed her, grabbed her, and raped her twice.

READ | Teen rapist handed three life sentences

On 3 September 2023, Nkosi attacked another woman returning from the Blue Moon Tavern. He assaulted her, dragged her into nearby bushes, and raped her. Later that same morning, he went to a local tavern where he met his friends and continued drinking.

When his girlfriend arrived, Nkosi confronted her about the whereabouts of their child. He then grabbed her outside, assaulted her with a stone until she became unresponsive, and transported her to his residence using a wheelbarrow. Emergency services were notified, but Mazibuko was declared dead at the scene. The police were alerted, and Nkosi was arrested shortly thereafter.

In court, Nkosi pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court found the witnesses’ credible and consistent, leading to his conviction on one count of murder and three counts of rape.

Victim impact statements were also presented where some victims revealed they had dropped out of school due to the trauma they suffered, while the deceased’s mother expressed ongoing grief and an inability to come to terms with her daughter’s death.

ALSO READ | Serial rapist handed nine life sentences

He was sentenced him to life imprisonment for murder, life imprisonment for each of two counts of rape and ten years’ imprisonment for the remaining count of rape. Nkosi was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and his application for leave to appeal was dismissed.

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This is following his sentencing in the High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division last week.

The court heard that on 11 September 2022, Sifisokuhle Zuzumuzi Yende (31) was at a local tavern in Deepdale, Fernie (Eerstehoek District) armed with a knife terrorising patrons.

At the entrance, he confronted his first victim and demanded money. When the victim refused, Yende stabbed him multiple times and robbed him. As the wounded victim attempted to flee towards the tavern building, he encountered the second victim Lebogang Emmanuel Njolo, who he stabbed in the left chest. Njolo was rushed to a local clinic but was declared dead shortly after arrival.

READ | “Simbarara” sentenced to life!

Despite pleading not guilty, the state relied on strong circumstantial evidence, including testimony from the surviving victim and an eyewitness who identified Yende as the only aggressor.

Senior State Advocate Mahlatse Phaladi also presented a postmortem report confirming that the cause of death was a penetrating stab wound to the left chest. Based on the evidence, the court found Yende guilty of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

While the prescribed sentence for premeditated murder is life imprisonment, the court considered Yende’s circumstances, noting that he was a first-time offender, under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime, and still young. Balancing these factors with society’s interests, the court sentenced him to 20 years direct imprisonment for murder and seven years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances (to run concurrently).

This results in an effective sentence of 20 years of direct imprisonment. Additionally, the court declared Yende unfit to possess a firearm under Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

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The investigation revealed that Mkhabela is one of the senior management officials who awarded multi-million Rand COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) tenders to suppliers who did not deliver the services. These suppliers paid substantial kickbacks to the senior management officials and their family members in different ways.

According to the SIU the investigation uncovered multiple instances of corruption, fraud, theft, and money laundering committed by senior managers and service providers involved in procuring PPE disinfection services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the SIU’s consequence management recommendations, the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport charged Mkhabela with misconduct, which resulted in his dismissal.

READ | https://mpmirroronline.co.za/public-works-senior-officials-services-providers-busted-for-r52-million-ppe-corruption/

In July 2024, the High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division, Mbombela, granted an order to seize various assets and properties valued at approximately R52.6 million.

These assets are linked to 22 senior management officials, service providers, and entities involved in an alleged corruption network within the department, including Mkhabela.

Under this court order, the following assets belonging to Mkhabela were frozen:

• His bank account, where his salary was deposited

• His home

• VW Tiguan 2018

• Mercedes Benz

• VW POLO 2020

• Cellphones (Samsung and iPhone)

• MAC Book Laptop

• Microwave

• Fridge

• Washing machine

• Television

Mkhabela is currently facing prosecution as the SIU referred him for criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority. The matter is currently being tried at the Commercial Crimes Court in Mbombela.

In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU referred criminal evidence to the NPA and Hawks for further investigation.

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Witness Monareng (28) was sentenced by the High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division on Monday, November 4 after pleading guilty.

He was convicted for housebreaking with intent to commit a crime, two counts of murder, and two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The court heard that on February 5 this year, Monareng and unidentified accomplices forcefully entered Albert Mashego’s home in Violet Bank Trust, demanding money, cellphones, and a bank card.

READ | Teenager sentenced to 18 years in prison

When Mashego informed them that his bank card was with his girlfriend, Victoria Mmathapelo Lebjane, in Zoekenog Trust, Monareng forced him to call her to arrange its retrieval. Upon arrival at Lebjane’s residence, Monareng ordered Mashego to knock on the door. When Lebjane opened, expecting her partner, Monareng shot through the door, fatally wounding the couple (Mashego and Lebjane) before retrieving the bank card from her pocket and fled the scene.

Monareng was later arrested after police matched his fingerprints to evidence found at the crime scene.

Handing the sentence, Judge Sheila Msibi highlighted the severe nature of the offences, noting that Monareng had violated the victim’s constitutional right to life. The court sentenced him to 8 years for housebreaking with intent to commit a crime, 15 years for each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 15 years for the murder of one victim, and 24 years for the murder of the other. Additionally, the court declared Monareng unfit to possess a firearm.

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