Two brothers, aged 30 and 26 respectively were given a long term jail sentence for the murder of 30-year-old Mr Thabo Hlatshwayo from Amersfoort.

The sentence was handed down by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court that was sitting in Breyten on Thursday, 25 February.

The sentencing of the siblings Thembinkosi Mkhatshwa and Bhekumuzi Mkhatshwa, came after the two were involved in an argument with the deceased and his friends at a tavern in Amersfoort on 26 February 2017.

The altercation then turned violent and the late Mr Hlatshwayo and his friends, fearing for their lives, ran away.

They were however, pursued by the two brothers, who broke windows as well as a door at a shack where the deceased was residing as a tenant, but he was not there.

They proceeded to a shack where his friend was living and damaged his property too.

Upon realising that he was not at either of the two residences, they continued searching for him until they found him at a cemetery, where they confronted and ultimately stabbed him to death.

The duo then went into hiding.

The matter was reported to the police where a case of murder was opened, with an additional charge of two counts of malicious damage to property.

Before the murder of Mr Hlatshwayo, Thembinkosi was also sought by police for a case of assault with the intent to inflict grievous body harm.

Thembinkosi stabbed a man who was 32 at the time.

The victim was taken to hospital for medical treatment and survived the ordeal.

Read the complete article in the Highvelder.