Sbusiso Gxubane (32) was sentenced in the Scottburgh Regional Court last month after being found guilty of murder.

Following several court appearances, Gxubane was found guilty on April 23 and sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The court heard that on August 5, 2023, a birthday celebration at a home in the Nkombo area in Malangeni turned violent when a 35-year-old man, who had reportedly had enough of the festivities, retired to his room.

Gxubane, who was known to the deceased, followed him to the room and stabbed him four times in the upper body, resulting in his death.

Police arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and arrested Gxubane, who was charged with murder.

The investigation encountered a setback when the case was provisionally withdrawn after witnesses became reluctant to testify.

However, the persistence of investigating officer Detective Constable Jairus Perumal of the Umzinto Detective Service, together with convincing evidence gathered during the investigation, led to the matter being re-enrolled for trial.

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