A pastor, his son, and his daughter-in-law have been found guilty on charges stemming from a shocking attack on a man whose hands were chopped off in March of last year.

The Witbank Regional Court delivered its verdict on November 21, convicting Pastor Solomon Mhlanga and his son, Enock Mhlanga, of kidnapping and attempted murder.

The pastor’s daughter-in-law, Poppy Mhlanga, was found guilty of kidnapping.

The horrifying story made headlines last year after the victim, 30-year-old Dumisani Mahlangu, was left for dead.

The incident occurred in eMalahleni when Mahlangu was walking on Kromdraai Road toward Extension 16 and was kidnapped at gunpoint by six men.

In a savage act of violence, both his hands were brutally hacked off. He was later discovered by security officers conducting routine patrols.

Mahlangu testified that he struggled to understand his captors, as they did not speak the same language as him, but he clearly understood their chilling threat ‘they were going to kill him’.

He recounted how his captors drove him into the bushes, removed him from the vehicle, placed rubber bands around his arms, and then hacked off his hands.

During the trial, the accused, through their legal representation, maintained their innocence.

They claimed to know nothing about the offence, stating they had previously only assisted Mahlangu with his alleged drug problem.

They expressed disbelief as to why he would accuse them of the attack.

@witbanknews Dumisani seeks justice for those who hacked off his hands. #witbanknews #witbank #courtday ♬ original sound – witbanknews

#Hackedoff Duminani Mahlanga is waiting to hear the sentence imposed on a pastor from Zimbabwe and his family. They were found guilty of chopping off his hands.#WitbankNews #Dumisani #sentencing#CrimeNews

— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) November 24, 2025

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