Nino Mbatha (32) and Lungisani Magubane (32) were each sentenced to life imprisonment in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on December 12. The sentencing relates to the killing of 24-year-old Zanele Hlatshwayo in July 2017.
Court evidence told how Magubane approached Mbatha, a traditional healer, for muti that would bring him luck in the various aspects of his life. Mbatha told him that the ancestors required blood to be spilled for this kind of muti and advised that he bring a woman or child.
In July 2017, the complainant was in Estcourt and taken to Esigodlweni location. There, Mbatha slit her throat and beheaded her. With the assistance of Magubane, they removed her internal organs, hands, feet and other soft tissue. They concealed the remaining body parts among some rocks.
In mid-August, Mbatha went to Estcourt police station, where he told the officers that he needed help, as he was being forced to eat human flesh. From his bag, he produced a hand and foot belonging to the deceased.
An inspection of his home revealed the cranium of a skull, parts of a jawbone and decaying internal organs stored in various containers. The deceased’s identity was established via DNA analysis.
In court, the State, represented by Senior State Advocates Wendy Greeff and Val Dafel, led the evidence of the police officials who were on duty when Mbatha arrived at the station, as well as other officers who went to his house. The State’s other witnesses were Mbatha’ s ex-girlfriend and her brother, who were his neighbours. Since Mbatha denied producing the body parts at the station, his girlfriend testified that he had shown her the human hand at his house. Her brother corroborated this evidence.
A victim impact statement compiled by the mother of the deceased and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Babongile Chuene was also handed in to the court. Here, the mother mentioned that their family is still in shock about how their daughter was killed. She said that they were in pain and were battling to get over the incident.
The accused each received a life sentence.
The Director of Public Prosecution in KwaZulu Natal, Advocate Moipone Noko, welcomes the sentence. “It is my hope that sentences such as this will deter like-minded individuals. Cases of this nature translate to murder and we will prosecute without fear, favour or prejudice. Congratulations to all NPA officials involved in the finalisation of this matter.”
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