The Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, said although the victims murdered by Julius Thabiso Mndawe will never come back, the sentence he received will go a long way to help their families on the road to recovery.

“We believe that the families of the victims will find closure and some comfort that justice has been served. This should also spur us on to continue fighting gender-based violence in our communities. We welcome the sentence.”

Mndawe has been handed five life terms for murder charges and another 25 years for defeating the ends of justice. These murders were committed between 2018 and 2019. The police tracked him through one of the victims’ cellphone he was using and arrested him.

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“I want to thank the police under the leadership of the provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Semakaleng Manamela, for the sterling work they did on the case. Although Mndawe pleaded guilty, the police must be commended for cracking the case.

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“I want to thank all the role players who were involved in the case and the departments that supported the victims’ families.”