A traditional healer was sentenced by the Mtubatuba Regional Court for murdering the man accused of raping his wife in December last year.

According to the Zululand Observer, Khulekani Ngubane (48) from Qakwini was handed a 15-year sentence for the murder of Thandazani Mngomezulu (29).

The court heard that Ngubane’s wife returned from the shop, informing him that she had been sexually assaulted, allegedly by Mngomezulu.

Upon hearing this, an enraged Ngubane drove to Mngomezulu’s family home and forced him into his car before driving back home.

There, he tied Mngomezulu’s hands and feet with rope and hung him upside down from a tree before repeatedly assaulting him with a sjambok on his head and body.

When he stopped moving, Ngubane untied him and let him drop to the ground.

Ngubane’s family members pleaded with him to take Mngomezulu to hospital, where he remained for five weeks before he passed away. Ngubane was arrested thereafter.

In court, prosecutor Sphelele Mdluli led the testimony of Mngomezulu’s sister, who witnessed the assault.

In a victim impact statement, Mngomezulu’s family recalled having nightmares of the incident while describing the deceased as a ‘good and responsible’ father.