Mpumalanga High Court convicts daughter for her mother’s murder

The Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela convicted and sentenced Valencia Nonhlanhla Mthunywa (33) to 20 years of direct imprisonment on January 29 for the murder of her biological mother, Wanter Jabulile Dlamini (62). Valencia was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

This is after she had entered into a plea sentence agreement with the state.

Also read: Two sisters and two co-accused appear in Mbombela High Court for allegedly killing their mother

Valencia had been charged along with her sister Bathabile Penelope Mthunywa (39), Nombuso Philadelphia Ndwandwa (41), and Steen Silo Mashakeng (35).

Five suspects were initially arrested and charged, but one, Moses Mosemba, has since died.

The charges against Valencia emanated from an incident which happened on January 5, 2020 in Barberton in the district of eMjindini where Dlamini was having drinks with some of the accused when her beer was poisoned.

The following day, Valencia invited her mother to her boyfriend’s house and conspired to kill her to claim an R80 000 insurance policy which was allegedly taken by Ndwandwa in Dlamini’s name in November 2019.

Dlamini was assaulted, raped, and strangled until she died.

Her body was discovered at a local dumping area near the abattoir in Barberton. A few days later, a claim to Old Mutual was received from Dlamini’s daughters.

The police investigations led to the arrest of the accused.

The trial of the remaining accused will start in front of a new presiding officer on November 18.