SON SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR THE MURDER OF HIS MOTHER
The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court has this morning sentenced Bongani Thulani Matsane (33) to life and an additional five years imprisonment for the brutal murder of his 64- year- old mother Thembi Ngwenya, accusing her of practising witchcraft.
The accused was residing with his mother in her homestead in Mganduzweni in the district of Nsikazi.
During the month of December 2022, the accused confronted the deceased and asked her to stop bewitching him as he was told that his things are not well in life because somebody is bewitching him . On the evening of 14 December 2022 ,the deceased sent the accused to buy bread in a local shop.On his return with the bread, he gave it to the deceased and went out. The accused took a hand hoe and approached the deceased from behind. He struck her with it on the head and the deceased ran out of the house crying for help .He chased her and continued assaulting her until she collapsed . He then dragged her into her bedroom, placed her on the bed and set the bed alight before wiping the blood stains on the floor. The accused was arrested the same day .
Senior State Advocate Thulani Msibi addressed the court that the accused’s plea of guilty is not a genuine remorse, his belief on misfortunes cannot be used as a compelling reason for the court to deviate from the prescribed sentence of life. Advocate Msibi further argued that the accused took the life of a person he was supposed to take care of.Victim Impact Statements compiled by the other two sons of the deceased and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nomfundo Mokoena were presented . They detailed that they could not believe the evil actions committed by the accused in their mother.Their lives have been devastatingly changed, suffered financial loss and had to go for counselling sessions.
When sentencing the accused Judge Manthata said, the most aggravating factor is the manner in which the accused killed his mother and the abuse of an old person.
The court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment for murder and five years for defeating the ends of justice . The court ordered the sentence imposed on count 2 to run concurrent with the sentence imposed on count 1, effectively the accused will serve life imprisonment. The court further declared the accused unfit to work with old aged persons.
This sentence highlights the NPA’ s commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of such crimes are severely punished to deter others.
