Ndudi Anyim
Two brothers, Thembinkosi Mkhatshwa and Bhekumuzi Mkhatshwa, aged 30 and 26 respectively, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a 30-year-old man.
The accused persons were arraigned before the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court, sitting at Breyten.
It was leant that the deceased from Amersfoort, was killed following an argument with one Thabo Hlatshwayo on February 26, 2017.
According to the spokesperson for the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga Province, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, “ The altercation 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.
“ They then moved to another shack looking for him and further damaged property there at a place where Hlatshwayo’s friend was residing. Upon realising that Hlatshwayo was not available at the two places, they continued searching for him until they found him at a cemetery where he was stabbed to death.
“ The duo then went into hiding after this horrible incident. Before the murder incident, Thembinkosi Mkhatshwa was sought by police for a case of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. In that case, it is said that on February 24, 2017, Thembinkosi stabbed a man who was 32 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.The successive Hlatshwayo matter was reported to the police where a case of murder 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 March 1, 2017. The two went on trial where they were both convicted and sentenced. ”
Hlathi said the judge further declared the two accused unfit to possess a firearms. He added that the sentence will definitely serve as a deterrence to others who use violence in resolving matters.