Life imprisonment for double murder
Two elderly women were murdered on Women's Day and buried on a property in Umgababa.
Thokozani Patrick Mhlongo (60) was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday this week, for the murders of Zanele Doris Mbuso (62) and Moni Sophie Xulu (81) .
He also received a further three years for theft.
The elderly women were murdered and buried in a shallow grave in Umgababa in August.
They had gone missing on Women’s Day and investigations by Umkomaas detectives, Durban Search and Rescue and eThekwini District Task Team led to the location of the women’s bodies.
“Both the deceased were described as strong, hardworking women who were breadwinners for their respective families,” said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson – KZN Division.
Mhlongo was arrested a week after the incident and pleaded guilty to the murders in court last week. He also pleaded guilty to the theft of his victims cellphones.
“In his plea, Mhlongo said that he met Xulu in 2014. He had approached her for employment as he did not have any money and she owned a daycare in the area,” explained Ramkisson-Kara.
“He confided in her that he had no family and that his family home was destroyed in 1994. He had asked her to keep this a secret.”
Xulu employed him as a security guard at the daycare and in return he lived in the outbuilding on the property for free. It was during this time that he also met Mbuso, who was in charge of the creche’s kitchen.
“He said that earlier this year he had some issues with Mbuso because she accused him of stealing food from the kitchen. He further added that in August, he heard people discussing his background. He asked Xulu about this and she apologised for divulging his secret. When he heard more people talking about him, he decided to confront Xulu again, but only got the opportunity to do so on August 9,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
On this day, Mhlongo was alone at the daycare as it was a public holiday. Both the deceased went to the daycare that day, and he first approached Xulu saying that it hurt his feelings to hear people talking and laughing about him.
“She told him that there was nothing that she could do about it, and she also told him that she was tired of him stealing food from the kitchen.”
He then asked Mbuso why she lied about him stealing food from the kitchen. Both women are believed to have ignored him. Mhlongo said that this angered him and he decided to exact revenge on them.
“He went to his room and fetched his nunchucks and a rope which he intended to assault them with. He first assaulted Xulu with the nunchucks and strangled her until she stopped moving. He then tied Mbuso’s hands and legs, put a packet over her head and strangled her as well,” added Ramkisson-Kara.
Mhlongo said that he dug a shallow grave on the creche’s property and buried the women who were only found days later.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
