Horrific mutilation near eMalahleni: Pastor, son and daughter-in-law sentenced
A man accused of theft was kidnapped and had both hands chopped off in a vigilante attack that saw a pastor and relatives jailed.
Pastor Solomon Mhlanga (66) and his son, Enock (21), were today sentenced in the regional court in eMalahleni to life imprisonment for their roles in the brutal attack that resulted in 31-year-old Dumisani Mahlangu having both his hands hacked off last year. Witbank News reports that in addition to the life sentence for attempted murder, the two men received a three-year sentence for kidnapping.
The third accused, Poppy, the pastor’s daughter-in-law, was sentenced to three years of direct imprisonment for kidnapping. She was instrumental in the crime, having suggested that the victim be tied up to prevent his escape.
Magistrate JJ Combrink in delivering the sentence stated that the ruling should ‘send a clear message to everyone that vigilante acts will not be tolerated in this jurisdiction’.
Kidnapping and assault inside the church
The horrifying incident, which made headlines last year, began in March when Mahlangu was kidnapped at gunpoint by six men while walking on Kromdraai Road near eMalahleni. Mahlangu had been accused of theft.
The violence began when Mahlangu was taken inside the church, where he was assaulted. He was then driven to a secluded area where the mutilation took place.
Graphic details warning: Sensitive readers be advised
‘Soldiers die in war’
During the trial, the court heard chilling details of the attack, including how Mahlangu pleaded with the pastor not to cut off his second hand, only to be met with the cold reply: “Soldiers die in war.”
Mahlangu testified that he watched in disbelief as his severed hands ‘flip-flopped’ in front of him, realising that where his hands had been, only bloodied stumps remained.
The magistrate quoted the callousness of the accused, stating: “No mercy was shown and when Mahlangu tried to get onto the bakkie to seek medical help, he was told to get away because he was smearing blood all over the bakkie.”
Irreparable damage to the victim
Combrink emphasised the life-altering impact on the victim, stating that Mahlangu only survived because nearby woodcutters found him.
“How do you get along without hands? How do you do something simple like eat? How do you dress or close your buttons? How do you go to a bathroom without hands?” Combrink asked, highlighting the irreparable damage inflicted by the vigilante attack.
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Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
