Man sentenced to two life terms for murder of elderly employer
Mpumalanga court imposes two life sentences on a former general worker convicted of raping, murdering and robbing his 70-year-old employer.
BREYTEN – The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court sitting in Breyten sentenced Anele Daniel Nkomo (30) to two life terms and an additional 22 years’ imprisonment for the rape, murder and robbery of his elderly employer, Catherina Petronella Kruger (70), in Grootvlei.
According to Monica Nyuswa, the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) provincial spokesperson, Nkomo pleaded guilty to charges of housebreaking with intent to rob, rape, murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
In his plea statement, read by his legal representative, Nkomo told the court that towards the end of November 2023 he contacted Kruger requesting money for festive season necessities.
After she was unable to assist him he went to her residence on December 30 to demand money.
The court heard that Nkomo forcibly entered the house and assaulted Kruger with a stone before raping and repeatedly stabbing her until she succumbed to her injuries.
After the attack, Nkomo fled with several valuables, including a cellphone, wallet and air pistol, using the deceased’s vehicle to escape.
While driving at high speed, he encountered a police vehicle, overtook it, and later lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn. He sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Police questioned Nkomo at the scene, where he allegedly failed to provide satisfactory answers and claimed he had borrowed the vehicle.
Further investigation linked him to the crimes, leading to his arrest.
During sentencing proceedings, Senior State Advocate Themba Lusenga argued that the attack on the elderly woman was brutal and unnecessary, adding that the accused deserved the harshest possible sentence.
The court found no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence.
Nkomo was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, life imprisonment for murder, seven years for housebreaking with intent to rob, and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Nyuswa said the prosecution authority remains committed to pursuing cases involving violence against vulnerable people and abuse of trust.
