Vosloorus resident face 25 years jail sentence for murder
He was sleeping with the knife around his waist, which he had already cleaned to remove the evidence of blood.
Mfaniseni Shaka Mthembu (27) was sentenced to 25-year direct imprisonment for charges of sexual assault and the murder of his cousin Langa Mxolisi Labiso (27 then) from Vlakplaas informal settlement, Vosloorus.
He killed Labiso during an argument after Labiso stopped Mthembu from attempting to rape his girlfriend (34 then) on December 25, 2021.
The police arrested Mthembu in the early hours of December 26, 2021, at a friend’s house in Vosloorus.
According to the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Basani Nkuna from Vosloorus SAPS, they found Mthembu with the murder weapon in his possession during his arrest.
He was sleeping with the knife around his waist, which he had already cleaned to remove the evidence of blood.
Nkuna said the couple was hanging out and drinking with friends until late.
He said Mthembu returned later and they arranged he would sleep on the couch while Labiso and his girlfriend occupied the bedroom.
The couple was inside the bedroom sleeping when the Mthembu attempted to join them on the bed to sleep with the girlfriend.
“The cousin reprimanded him before Mthembu got angry and got a knife in the kitchen. Mthembu stabbed Labiso twice in his chest, and Labiso died at the scene,” said Nkuna.
“The police found Labiso’s body on the bedroom floor. At the time the police arrived, Mthembu had already fled the crime scene.”
Upon investigating the case, Nkuna discovered the accused escaped from Qalakabusha prison in KwaZulu-Natal on May 27, 2021, where he was serving a 22-year sentence for rape.
His first appearance for sexual assault and murder charges was on December 28, 2022, at Palm Ridge High Court. The court denied him bail because he escaped prison.
On January 26, Mthembu pleaded guilty to both charges. He received a 20-year sentence for murder and five years for sexual assault.
He started serving his sentence at Boksburg Correctional Service. He still has to finish his sentence in KwaZulu-Natal and face penalties for escaping from custody.
Kathorus MAIL is still trying to reach the Qalakabusha prison to find out how Mthembu escaped.
