Daughter convicted of mother’s murder in Mpumalanga

The Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, yesterday convicted and sentenced Valencia Nonhlanhla Mthunywa (33) to 20 years in prison 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.

She was convicted after entering into a plea sentence agreement with the state.

Valencia was 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 that 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.

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.