Katlehong residents sentenced for murder
He only confessed to killing his girlfriend to his mother on October 15, 2021.
Mzwi Joseph Mdalose, from Ext 2, Moleleki, has been sentenced to 10-year direct imprisonment for killing his girlfriend Hlengiwe Zanele Mdluli on September 25, 2021.
Mdalose was convicted after he pleaded guilty to murder at the Palm Ridge Magistrate Court on December 7, 2022.
According to the investigating officer Detective Warrant Officer Muzi Mkhize from Katlehong South SAPS, on September 24 the couple were at a tavern.
Mdluli’s friend joined them for drinks. After some time they had a misunderstanding to the point where the friend revealed to Mdalose that he was not the biological father of the one-year-old daughter he was raising with Mdluli.
“Mdalose said it offended him but remained calm because they were in the presence of many people at the tavern and he did not want to cause a big scene. The couple left early that morning for Mdalose’s shack to sleep,” explained Mkhize.
“He then confronted his girlfriend about the friend’s allegations of their child. Mdluli admitted that it was true and she has been meaning to tell him but was afraid.”
According to Mkhize, Mdalose became very angry and slapped his girlfriend. She retaliated by slapping him back and then the fight broke out.
Mdluli overpowered her because he was drunk and strangled her until she fell dead on the floor.
“He panicked, shaking her to check if she was still alive before he realised that she is dead. He then packed his clothes and locked Mdluli’s body inside the shack before fleeing to Eastern Cape to his mother.”
On his arrival, he did not mention anything to his mother. He only confessed to killing his girlfriend to his mother on October 15, 2021. His mother went to Engcobo SAPS to report the case and provided them with the address.
The police informed the Katlehong South SAPS and police officials went to the scene of the murder where a group of people were already gathered, complaining about the odour. They said it has been a while since they have seen the owner of the shack.
Police forced open the door where they found the decomposed body of Mdalose.
While arresting Mdalose for the alleged murder, Engcobo police found him in a possession of an unlicensed firearm and live ammunition, a separate offence under the Ngcobo SAPS.
He was arrested and later transported to Katlehong, where he was charged with murder. His first appearance was on October 22, 2021, at Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court where he was denied bail because he had another pending court case.
Mkhize said he expected a harsher sentence but because the accused pleaded guilty, showed remorse and did not waste the court’s time and state resources, his sentence was reduced.
Mdalose is yet to answer the Engcobo SAPS authorities for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and live ammunition.
