Mpumalanga High Court jails two men for employer’s murder
The Mpumalanga High Court sentenced two men to 25 years’ imprisonment each for the murder and robbery of their employer, with their appeal bid dismissed.
Two men were sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment each for the brutal murder of their employer. The sentence was handed down in the Mpumalanga High Court on April 29.
Andile Sibusiso Shongwe (26) and Muzi Mandoza Jele (29) were convicted of robbery and murder with aggravating circumstances. The 15-year sentence for robbery will run concurrently with the murder sentence.
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Both accused denied the charges in court. However, Senior State Advocate Mkhulesi Ntaba, assisted by Adv Natalie Msibi, secured their conviction through strong evidence and testimonies from several witnesses.
On October 12, 2024, the pair went to the home of the victim, 74-year-old Magdalene Johanna Coetzee, in Carolina, Mpumalanga, where they attacked and suffocated her. A post-mortem report confirmed suffocation as the cause of death. Following the murder, Shongwe and Jele ransacked the property and stole several belongings.
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A concerned neighbour later discovered Coetzee’s body. Days after the murder, the suspects were caught attempting to sell her laptop. They were unable to explain how they had obtained it, which led to their arrest.
The prosecution argued that Shongwe and Jele had violated a position of trust, having worked for Coetzee for approximately seven years. During the trial, the two showed no remorse for their actions.
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In addition to their sentences, the accused were declared unfit to possess firearms. Their application for leave to appeal the sentence was also dismissed.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Monica Nyuswa welcomed the sentence.
“The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to prosecuting serious crimes and ensuring accountability, particularly in cases involving the abuse of trust and violence against vulnerable persons,” she said.
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