2 jailed for life after murder and robbery in Limpopo village
A Limpopo court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for murder, robbery and kidnapping linked to a case in Mandiwana village.
LIMPOPO – The Thohoyandou High Court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the murder, robbery and kidnapping of a man from Mandiwana village under the Siloam policing precinct.
The sentences were handed down on Friday (May 22).
The accused are Thinandavha Rudolph Mathisa (37) and Lucas Mukhadi (35).
Both were convicted on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
The court imposed the following sentences:
- Murder: Life imprisonment
- Robbery with aggravating circumstances: Five years’ imprisonment
- Kidnapping: Five years’ imprisonment
- Defeating the ends of justice: Three years’ imprisonment
The sentences for robbery, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice will run concurrently with the life sentence.
According to police, the incident took place on December 18 2022 in Mandiwana village.
The victim, identified as 37-year-old Jimmy Mukwevho, was reportedly travelling in his Nissan NP200 with the accused before arriving at Mathisa’s homestead. During the incident, Mukwevho sustained fatal injuries after allegedly being struck on the head with a brick.
Police said the victim’s hands and legs were tied with rope before his body was transported in the load bin of the vehicle and allegedly disposed of near Levubu Bridge.
The Nissan NP200 was later taken to Mashau village, where it was sold for R7 500 to a businessman.
Police subsequently recovered the vehicle. Mukhadi was arrested on January 2 2023, while Mathisa was arrested two days later.
Mukwevho’s body has still not been recovered.
A third accused, a 28-year-old woman from Mashau village, was later released by the court.
The incident sparked unrest in Mandiwana village at the time, with residents staging protests and blocking roads for several days.
The investigation was led by Sgt Collen Sinyosi of the Siloam Detective Services.
Limpopo police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe commended the investigating officer for securing the convictions and ensuring justice for the victim’s family.
