Ramaphosa man sentenced to 15 years for murder

Mfanelo Mbena (46) of Ramaphosa received a 15 years’ imprisonment recently at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.

This is according to Reiger Park police spokesperson Constable Johannes Msimanga, who explained Mbena was arrested and charged with murder after stabbing a 29-year-old woman, Tswelekile Juta, in Ramaphosa in March 2019.
Msimanga said Juta was killed while visiting her sister in Ramaphosa.
Mbena lived next door and joined the victim at her sister’s house. They drank alcohol, an argument broke out, and he stabbed her.

She was rushed to hospital but later died of her injuries.

Mbena fled the area and evaded arrest for nearly two years before the police tracked him down in the Eastern Cape in March 2021.
The investigating officer, Sergeant Mothusi Ntsaku of Reiger Park SAPS, described the investigation as challenging.
“Mbena kept hiding, and people were tipping him off. Witnesses were too afraid to come forward, which made the case difficult.

“For years, he stayed one step ahead of us, but eventually, with the assistance of the National Intervention Unit, we arrested him,” Ntsaku said.

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He added that it took years to secure witnesses’ cooperation.
“The family had lost hope, but I could inform them when the court secured the conviction. They found it hard to believe.”

The victim’s sister, Amanda Juta, said the family was finally at peace knowing justice had been served.
“We had lost hope, but now we feel relieved. My sister was the breadwinner and a bubbly, happy person who did not deserve to die like that.
“What began as a minor argument escalated unnecessarily and ended her life,” she said.
Station commander Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Chetty welcomed the sentence.

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