Tzaneen man gets life for girlfriend’s murder
A man who asked his girlfriend to go and pick fruit with him murdered her using a work-issued firearm.
Golden Mbhalati (50) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Tzaneen Regional Court on Wednesday, for the murder of his 51-year-old girlfriend in February 2021.
According to police reports, Mbhalati was on duty at a clinic in Bellview when he booked out a company-issued firearm and left his post. He went home, where he asked his girlfriend to go and pick fruit with him outside their home.
“Before they could reach the fruit trees, the accused dragged the victim into nearby bushes, shot her in the upper body, and fled the scene on foot, leaving the firearm behind,” says police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Thakeng.
Letaba Herald reports that Thakeng explained that one of Mbhalati’s colleagues grew suspicious after noticing his unexplained absence and reported it to their employer. Meanwhile, the victim’s son became concerned when his mother failed to return home with the accused.
“While on his way to check on her, the child discovered his mother lying unconscious on the ground with visible gunshot wounds, and immediately notified the police,” Thakeng says.
Emergency Medical Services were called to the scene and pronounced the victim dead.
Further investigation confirmed that the firearm used in the crime belonged to the security company and had been checked out by Mbhalati shortly before the murder.
The case was assigned to Detective Constable Lerato Rampedi of Bolobedu Detective Services, who led the investigation.
Mbhalati was arrested in 2022 and denied bail. He was, however, later released by the court in 2023.
He was found guilty of murder in March and was sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the sentence and commended Rampedi for her relentless efforts in securing justice.
“This sentence sends a strong message that violence against women will not be tolerated. We applaud the investigator for ensuring the perpetrator received the punishment he deserves,” says Hadebe.
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