Tavern landlord who murdered tenant gets life in prison

Nhlakanipho Zungu faces life in prison for three charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition after he was sentenced in Johannesburg on Friday.

The 30-year-old was arrested by Mahlabathini police a few days after murdering Nombuso Baig, who was renting his tavern in Tokoza, Ekurhuleni.

Fikila Hadebe, witness and girlfriend of the accused, told the court that Baig and her boyfriend rented Zungu’s tavern until they were served with a notice of intention to cancel the lease agreement. Baig, however, refused to accept the termination, and subsequently stopped paying rent.

On the night Baig was killed, Zungu waited at a nearby friend’s house, and visited the tavern later that evening. He found Baig outside the tavern with friends, pulled out a firearm and shot her several times. Baig died at the scene.

The victim’s mother lamented that Baig was a mother of two boys, and the sole breadwinner of the household. She also said Zungu never apologised to Baig’s family.

Although Zungu is “relatively young”, a first-time offender and waited two years awaiting trial, the court chose not to deviate from prescribed minimum sentence.

Judge Thomas Mathunzi concluded that the aggravating factors outweigh mitigating factors when the sentence was handed down to Zungu.

The sentence has been welcomed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

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