The Dundee Regional Court has sentenced three people for the murder of Mhlonipheni Elphas Buthelezi (50), who was attacked at Kunene Farm in December 2023.

Siphamandla Ndlovu (38) received a life sentence, Nkosingiphile Kunene (39) was jailed for 15 years, and Nosipho Francisca Kunene (23) was jailed for 10 years. Co-accused Bongiwe Mthombeni (36) was convicted of assault and given a three-year sentence, wholly suspended for five years on condition of no further offences.

The court heard that on December 16, 2023, Buthelezi was attacked at his homestead by Ndlovu, Nkosingiphile and Nosipho, armed with a wooden stick, golf club and knife. Mthombeni later joined in. The attackers accused Buthelezi of abducting a missing child, who was later found elsewhere.

Buthelezi sustained severe injuries, including fractures and stab wounds, and died in hospital weeks later. Prosecutor Mphakamiseni Mdlalose presented eyewitness accounts, police evidence and a postmortem report, while a Victim Impact Statement from Buthelezi’s wife described the family’s profound loss.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentences, warning that crime will not be tolerated and urging communities to turn to law enforcement rather than taking the law into their own hands.

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