The Nongoma Regional Court in KZN has sentenced a 15-year-old boy to 43 years in prison after he was found guilty of murdering a school principal.

According to an article published by The Witness, the teenager was also charged with theft of a firearm, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The sentence was handed down last Thursday.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda says that on Saturday, April 22, last year, the teenager robbed and killed Alpheus Mphumuzeni Ntuli, who was 61 years old at the time.

Ntuli, who was a school principal at Bhekintinta High School in Nongoma, was reported missing that day. When police were driving to a police station from Bhanganoma cottages where Ntuli was living, they spotted his vehicle driving along Mkhuze Road.

“When they approached, the suspect sped off but later abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

“A little later, Ntuli’s body was found dumped near a river bank under a bridge [in the] Odwaleni area. His body was found with open wounds on the head and bruises all over the body,” says Netshiunda.

He adds that police traced the suspect to his home in kwaSnqandi, in the Toyisa area, where he was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition which he had stolen from his grandfather.

“The teenager was arrested and made several court appearances before pleading guilty to all charges, leading to his sentence,” says Netshiunda.