Lim man receives 20 years behind bars for murder

LIMPOPO – Traditional leader Vhamusanda Vho Mmbangiseni Tshishonga of Tswinga village outside Thohoyandou recently testified in the Sibasa Regional Court in the trial of a man convicted of murdering his partner, saying his community is against gender-based violence.

The same court convicted and sentenced Thendo Brian Mukwevho (37) to 20 years’ imprisonment for the murder of Sarinah Makhura.

The conviction and sentence emanated from an incident that took place in February 2017 at Mangondi village.

Vhamusanda Vho Tshishonga told the media after sentencing that the three orphaned children of the deceased are receiving help from him as the traditional leader of Tswinga village and his communities.

“I have already set aside the site where the three orphaned children will be staying, as the councillor in Thulamela agreed that an RDP house should be built for them.”

The spokesperson for the NPA Limpopo Division, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said that during the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Senior public prosecutor Ndiitwani Mutangwa led the testimony of the elder sister and Makhura’s children who testified how the accused used to abuse their mother.

“The children told the court that they left their homestead at Tswinga, and went to their aunt at Mangondi village as Makhura felt unsafe spending another night at her home. On that night, the witnesses overheard a cellphone conversation between the accused and Makhura. They were quarrelling and she addressed the accused by his name. She was heard remarking, ‘you are not going to kill me’. The following day, the woman met the accused in the street, where he attacked her and stabbed her to death. She was later found by her daughter with stab wounds to the chest.”

In aggravation of the sentence, the court called Vhamusanda who said on record that his community is against gender-based violence, said Malabi-Dzhangi.

Tshishonga further told the court that he is assisting the deceased’s three children by referring them to the relevant institutions for assistance. He concluded by asking the court to impose a lengthy period of imprisonment for the senseless killing of a woman whose children were left orphaned.

In arguing for the sentence, the prosecutor submitted that the court should exercise its powers by imposing five more years above the minimum sentence of 15 years as there were no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying a lesser sentence. The accused, he said, did not show any signs of remorse. The court concurred with the state and sentenced the accused to 20 years’ direct imprisonment.

The director of public prosecutions, Ivy Thenga, welcomed the sentence and said she hopes it would send a strong message to would-be offenders. She commended prosecutor Mutangwa and the investigating officer for their good work.