The Middelburg High Court has convicted and sentenced Steven Mahlangu (31) from Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga to life plus 53 years of direct imprisonment.

He was convicted on charges of housebreaking with intent to commit a crime, three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and arson.

Mahlangu was in a romantic relationship with the deceased, Hope Makola, who was residing in Siyabuswa where the incident happened.

On December 22, 2020, Mahlangu and Makola were drinking alcohol, when she was approached by a man who told her he loved her. Mahlangu got upset and the parties parted ways.

He, however, came back armed with a knife and followed the victim to her home.

He broke into the house and stabbed her, her uncle, Joseph Maputu, and an eight-year-old who was inside the house, to death. An 11-year-old survived the stabbing incident with serious injuries.

Mahlangu then set the house on fire and fled the scene.

He was later arrested and after several court appearances, he pleaded guilty to a lesser sentence but the state rejected his plea.

State Advocate Frieda Tshwane led evidence of the accused’s friend, which proved that Mahlangu stole his knife to kill the deceased.

Post mortem reports revealed the three victims died due to penetrating incised wounds through the chest.
A photo album of the crime scene was also presented.

Victim Impact Statements compiled by court preparation officer Given Mampye were presented.

It revealed that the victims’ families suffered emotional and psychological trauma because of the incident.

Addressing the court to impose an appropriate sentence, Advocate Tshwane said the case is a perfect example of violent crimes perpetrated against women and children.

Judge Thando Mankge remarked that Mahlangu did not want the deceased to survive the attack, labelling the viciousness of the attack ‘extremely aggravating’.

The knife the accused used left oval shapes on the bodies of the deceased.

Mankge subsequently sentenced Mahlangu to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, 20 years for the murder of the minor and 15 years for Maputu’s murder.

Mahlangu was also sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for housebreaking, eight years for attempted murder and five years for arson.