ELUKWATINI- One of the accused in the murder and robbery case of Mthunzi Zwane will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was sentenced to life and an additional 15 years’ direct imprisonment.
Clement Njabulo Nhlabathi (23) was sentenced by the Elukwatini Regional Court was initially charged alongside his co-accused, Lwazi Panel Motha (22), Sakhile Siphamandla Nkosi (23), Nthatheng Hopewell Makhanya (22), and Nkosenhle Prince Masina (24). The co-accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the State to successfully apply for a separation of trials.
The court heard that on 06 July 2023, Zwane went to Stars Local Tavern in Nhlazatshe 1, Elukwatini, to purchase alcohol. While at the tavern, he was spotted by a group of men. As he left the premises, the group followed him. Upon reaching a nearby bridge, they attacked him, produced a knife, and repeatedly stabbed him while demanding his bank card and PIN.
Zwane complied and handed over his bank card and PIN. When the accused realised that he was no longer breathing, they pushed his body into the river, where he drowned. The group then returned to the tavern and repeatedly used the deceased’s bank card to purchase alcohol until the transaction limit was reached, after which they discarded the card.
The deceased’s body was discovered the following day. Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused, and one of them pointed out the location where the deceased’s bank card had been discarded.
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According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), during the trial, Nhlabathi pleaded guilty to the charges. In his plea explanation, he admitted that his conduct was unlawful and punishable by law. He was subsequently convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
In mitigation of sentence, the defence submitted that the accused had pleaded guilty, demonstrated remorse, and had not wasted the court’s time. The defence requested the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
State Prosecutor Mxolisi Biyela argued that the guilty plea was not motivated by genuine remorse, but rather by the overwhelming evidence against the accused, including eyewitness testimony, a confession, and evidence obtained through the pointing-out conducted during the investigation. The State further submitted that the impact of the crime extended beyond the deceased’s family and had devastated the entire Elukwatini community.
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The prosecution further emphasised that the deceased was a young, qualified medical doctor with a promising future and urged the court to impose the prescribed sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offences, protect society, and deter would-be offenders.
A Victim Impact Statement, compiled by the deceased’s sister with the assistance of Court Preparation Officer Nondumiso Thwala, was presented before the court.
In her statement, she explained that she and the deceased had lost both their parents and that he was her only remaining immediate family member. She described the profound emotional and financial hardship she has suffered following his death, stating that she had depended on him for financial support and that their shared dream of building a family home had been shattered. The criminal proceedings against the remaining co-accused were postponed to 29 September, 2026 in the same court.
