ERIC MATOME KGOMO
Breyten: The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court, which was sitting at Breyten, has on Thursday 25 February handed down long term jail sentences to two siblings who murdered a 30 year old man at Amersfoort.
The brothers, Thembinkosi Mkhatshwa (30) and Bhekumuzi Mkhatshwa’s (26), were sentenced for spiral a horrific incident in which the pair was involved in an argument with the deceased, Thabo Hlatshwayo and his friends at a certain tavern in Amersfoort on 26 February 2017.
“The altercation then turned into a serious fight where Hlatshwayo and his friends ran away in fear for their lives but were pursued by the two brothers, who went and broke windows as well as a door at a shack where Hlatshwayo was residing as a tenant but there wasn’t a soul in sight,” said Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, Mpumalanga Provincial Police Spokesperson.
Hlathi added that the accused then moved to another shack looking for the victim and further damaged property at a place where Hlatwayo’s friend was residing.
“Upon realizing that Hlatshwayo was not available at the two places, they continued searching for him until he was located at a cemetery and sadly he was stabbed to death. The duo then went into hiding after this horrible incident,” explained Hlathi.
He indicated that before the murder incident, Thembinkosi was sought by police for a case of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
“In that case, it is said that on 24 February 2017, Thembinkosi stabbed a man who was 32 years at the time after starting a fight by provoking the victim. The victim was then taken to hospital for medical treatment and survived the ordeal,” detailed Hlathi.
He said the matter of the Hlatswayo brothers was opened with an additional charge of two counts of malicious damage to property.
“A manhunt for the two suspects was also motioned where police made a breakthrough in their probe when they arrested the two men on 1 March 2017,” Hlathi said.
He indicated that the two went on trial where they were both convicted and sentenced.
“On the count of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, Thembinkosi was sentenced to five years imprisonment. On the count of malicious damage to property, the two accused brothers were each sentenced to two years imprisonment. Meanwhile on the count of murder, both were sentenced to life imprisonment,” said Hlathi.
The Judge further declared the two accused unfit to possess a firearm.
“Police management in the province has welcomed the sentence and applauded the relentless effort made in this case by a team of detectives, the prosecution as well as the judiciary. The sentence will definitely serve as a deterrence to others who prefer using violence in resolving matters,” concluded Hlathi.
