Twenty-year sentence welcomed for man who killed his girlfriend

The Sibasa Regional Court sentenced Thendo Brian Mukwevho (37) to 20 years imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Sarinah Makhura, who was killed on 4 February 2017 at Mangondi village.

The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority’s Limpopo Division, Ms Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, stated that during the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. However, the evidence against him was overwhelming. Senior Public Prosecutor Ndiitwani Mutangwa led the testimony of Sarinah’s elder sister and children, who testified how the accused had abused their mother.

“The children told the court that they had left their homestead at Tswinga and gone to their aunt at Mangondi village as Makhura felt unsafe to spend another night at her home. During the night, the witnesses overheard a cellphone conversation between the accused and Makhura. They were quarrelling, and the woman was addressing the accused by his name. She was heard remarking that ‘you are not going to kill me’. The following day, the woman met the accused while walking. The accused then attacked her and stabbed her to death. She was later found by her daughter with stab wounds to the chest,” she said.

In aggravation of sentence, the court called the traditional leader at Tswinga village, Mmbangiseni Tshishonga, who told the court that his community was opposed to any form of gender-based violence. Vhamusanda Vho Tshishonga further told the court that he was assisting the deceased’s three children by referring them to the relevant institutions for assistance. He concluded by asking the court to impose a lengthy period of imprisonment for the senseless killing of a woman that left children orphaned.

In arguing for the sentence, the prosecutor submitted that no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying a lenient sentence existed, because the accused had not even displayed signs of remorse. The court concurred with the State and on 26 January sentenced the accused to 20 years of direct imprisonment.

After the court adjourned, Vhamusanda Vho Tshishonga told the media that the three children were being cared for by the community. “I have already set aside a site where the three orphans will be staying, and the ward councillor assured us that an RDP house will be built for the children,” he said.

Date:22 February 2024

By: Silas Nduvheni

Read: 1879