Shortly after Mr Knoesen’s sentencing was postponed for a psychological evaluation, Mavuso Philani Dlamini, his brother Bethual Mzwakhe Dlamini, and George Simbanyane Mambane were hauled into the dock for murder.

The trio allegedly conspired to murder Sibokane Lyve Lerutle in Hendrina on January 29, 2019.

Both Mr Dlamini and Mr Mambane pleaded guilty to the charge of murder after reaching a plea deal with the state.
In the plea deal, both Mr Dlamini and Mr Mambane agreed to testify against Bethual Dlamini, who did not enter a plea on the murder charge against him.

Both Mr Dlamini and Mr Mambane were consequently found guilty by Judge Johanna Mthimunye and sentenced to 25 and 18 years in prison, of which five and three years were suspended.

Bethual Dlamini opted to go on trial and will face a life sentence if convicted on the testimony of his co-accused.

According to court testimony, Mr Mambane was approached by another suspect, who has not been formally charged, to murder Mr Lerutle.
Mr Mambane then allegedly approached the two Dlamini brothers in a murder-for-hire plot to carry out the ambush.

On January 29, 2019, the two Dlamini brothers allegedly ambushed Mr Lerutle at his Hendrina home, where they strangled him.
They then attempted to hang Mr Lerutle’s body from a roof beam but failed to accomplish the task due to Mr Lerutle’s size and dead weight.

It is alleged they attempted to clean the scene with a mop, which was left outside the home for the police to find.
Mr Lerutle’s blood was also found on one of the suspect’s clothes during the forensic investigations.

The police pounced on Mr Mambane and the Dlamini brothers after eyewitnesses placed them at the home of Mr Lerutle shortly before the murder.
Mr Mambane, police were told, had a close relationship with the remaining suspect, who allegedly planned the assassination.

Apart from testifying against the remaining Dlamini brother, both convicted murderers also agreed to testify against the fourth party, yet to be arrested and charged.

Advocate Rowles, an instrumental member of Mr Knoesen’s prosecuting team, welcomed the murder sentences ahead of Mr Knoesen’s sentencing date, scheduled for July 25.

Mr Knoesen is facing three life sentences on terrorism and treason charges, plus 20 years for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The state indicated that the consulting psychologist would need at least four weeks to compile a pre-sentence report after Mr Knoesen agreed to the evaluation.