Thapelo Sduma Mathonsi (36) will serve 15 years in prison for the murder of Sifiso Sibonelo Nhlengethwa at Zwelitsha Trust.

The Nelspruit Regional Court sentenced Mathonsi yesterday, August 13, to 15 years for murder and two years for housebreaking with intent to assault, to run concurrently. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Spokesperson details violent break-in

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the conviction and sentence arose from an incident in Zwelitsha Trust on September 8, 2024.

Mathonsi had previously been in a domestic relationship with Thandazile Gladness Sithole, with whom he shares a child. Sithole was also the complainant in the house burglary and assault-related matter.

Before the incident, Sithole and Mathonsi had arranged for their child to stay with Mathonsi at his parental home while she was at work. On her return from work that day, Sithole visited Mathonsi’s home to deliver items she had bought for the child. Mathonsi and the child subsequently accompanied her partway back to her nearby rental room.

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Nyuswa said between 20:00 and 21:00, Nhlengethwa, who was Sithole’s boyfriend, arrived at her rental room to visit her. Shortly thereafter, Mathonsi arrived and aggressively knocked on the door, stating that he knew Sithole was not alone and demanding that she open it.

Nyuswa said when Sithole refused, Mathonsi forcibly broke down the door and burglar guard before entering the room. Once inside, he assaulted both Sithole and Nhlengethwa. During the attack, Sithole managed to escape and ran to her landlord’s residence, screaming for assistance. Concerned for her safety, the landlord advised Sithole to spend the night in her room.

Police discover body following morning

Nyuswa said the following morning, Sithole returned to her rental room and immediately reported the incident to the police, who discovered Nhlengethwa’s body on the scene.

Mathonsi was arrested and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Nyuswa said he denied breaking into the room or assaulting either Sithole or the deceased, claiming instead that Sithole had voluntarily granted him entry.

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Nyuswa said state prosecutor John Mahlwele presented evidence from Sithole and her landlord, whose testimony corroborated the events of the night in question. The state also presented post-mortem evidence, as well as evidence establishing the chain of custody of the deceased’s body. The court rejected Mathonsi’s version of events and found that the state had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mathonsi was convicted of murder, read with the provisions of Section 51(2) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, and housebreaking with intent to assault.

Nyuswa said during sentencing proceedings, the state argued that Mathonsi’s actions were motivated by jealousy and that both the deceased and Sithole became victims of his violent conduct. The prosecution further emphasised the seriousness and prevalence of violent crimes committed within the context of domestic and interpersonal relationships.