A KwaZulu-Natal man has been sentenced to six life terms for the murder of six relatives, including two children, in a tragic incident linked to witchcraft accusations. | Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers
Durban — A KwaZulu-Natal man has been handed six life sentences for killing his relatives.
KZN National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said: “The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced Sthembiso Nkosinathi Mthimkhulu, 38, to six terms of life imprisonment for the murder of six of his relatives in February 2021 in the Nkanini area of Eshowe.
“In addition to the sentence, Mthimkhulu was declared unfit to possess a firearm.”
Providing background on what led to the murders, Ramkisson-Kara explained that sometime before the incident, Mthimkhulu’s relative had died. He suspected his uncle had practised witchcraft on the relative, causing them to die. Mthimkhulu planned to kill his uncle and decided to use a firearm.
On February 20, 2021, Mthimkhulu drove to his uncle’s homestead where he found his uncle in the company of his (uncle’s) family. Mthimkhulu opened fire on them, killing six of them, including two children aged eight and 10, before fleeing the scene. He was arrested after his vehicle was tracked to Greytown where he had gone to see a traditional healer.
Ramkisson-Kara said that for the State, Advocate Mbongeni Chamane led the testimony of an eyewitness and handed in Victim Impact Statements, by the victim’s grandchildren, and facilitated by Court Preparation Officers Nokuvela Mlotshwa and Amanda Nxumalo.
In her statement, the younger child drew pictures showing her smiling before the incident and crying after the incident. The older grandchild said that her parents had died when she was very young, so her grandparents (the deceased) were like her parents. They took such good care of her, and she misses them. She said following the incident, their family is highly traumatised, and they live with fear and anxiety.
Mthimkhulu’s sentencing comes after the Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Mlamuli Mondli Khoza, 28, to five life terms after he pleaded guilty (Section 112 Plea) to killing his relatives in October this year.
Khoza killed five of his relatives in the Bethany area of Bergville, in western KZN. He stabbed his relatives including three adults (one man and two women) and two minor children.
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