A sense of jubilation swept through the Thohoyandou High Court, sitting at the Waterval Magistrate’s Court, on Friday, 20 June, as former police sergeant Nditsheni Lefty Mphephu was sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Makwarela landlord Teith Muthige.
Family members, friends and residents of Makwarela Township, many of whom had attended court proceedings over the past three years, embraced one another and celebrated outside the courtroom, describing the sentence as the closure they had long awaited.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the tragedy that struck his family, the late Muthige’s father, Mr Ntshumeni Muthige, thanked the community for standing by them throughout their painful ordeal.
“This has been a very long and winding road which needed a big heart. We are just happy that it was not in vain. Justice has at long last been served. We are very grateful that there were people who rallied behind us all the way. We also thank God for this journey,” he said.
Makwarela community leader and crime prevention activist Mr Tovhowani Seemise said the sentence had brought a measure of comfort to the community.
“It has been a long journey and, in as much as we know that the sentence will not bring back our beloved Teith, it will ease our pain. The sentence will also serve as a deterrent to others. They will think twice before committing crime,” said Seemise.
Mphephu was found guilty on 5 June this year after a protracted trial that stretched over more than two years.
The case dates back to November 2023, when Mphephu, who was then attached to the Public Order Policing Unit in Thohoyandou, allegedly played loud music outside his rented room in Makwarela.
According to evidence presented in court, Muthige, who was Mphephu’s landlord, confronted him about the noise, complaining that it was disturbing students who were preparing for examinations. An argument reportedly followed, during which Mphephu went into his room, fetched his firearm and shot Muthige several times. Muthige later died in hospital.
Mphephu was arrested shortly afterwards and initially faced a charge of attempted murder, which was later upgraded to murder following Muthige’s death. The matter was subsequently plagued by numerous postponements, including delays caused by outstanding ballistic evidence.
Although Mphephu was initially denied bail, he was later released on R20,000 bail. At one stage, the matter was struck off the roll pending the finalisation of forensic investigations, before it was eventually reinstated by the state.