Life sentences handed down to ‘witchcraft killers’
They tried to burn down the premises, but failed
Three murderers will spend the rest of their lives behind bars after the Pietermaritzburg High Court recently handed down harsh sentences. Kwanele Goodluck Doda Khumalo (34), Ayanda Professor Kayo Khumalo (31) and Sandile Fana Khumalo (23) were sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment and a further 90 years for killing four people in eMadulumbane, Estcourt, last year.
Residents in the eMadulumbane area woke up to a gruesome discovery on January 9, 2023. They found that Mrs Neliswe Mazibuko (60), Mr Themba Sibeko (60), Miss Mazibuko (18) and Miss Mgaga (8) had been brutally murdered overnight by unknown suspects.
A manhunt was launched by the police and Sergeant MI Ntuli of Estcourt Detective Services was tasked with the investigation.
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A task team comprising officers from the Estcourt and Amangwe policing precincts was established, and they wasted no time in tracing the suspects.
The first suspect was found in the Tatane area of Amangwe. Further investigation led to the arrest of two more suspects; one in Greytown and the other in Maphumulo. The investigation then led to Gauteng, where a firearm was recovered. All the suspects were apprehended within a week of the crime.
The suspects appeared in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court, where bail was successfully opposed by the state. The case was then placed on the roll in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
During the trial, it was revealed that on the night of the incident, the accused went to the victims’ house. They accused Neliswe Mazibuko of practicing witchcraft before bludgeoning her to death. The three other victims, who were with Mazibuko, were also murdered. The suspects attempted to burn down the premises, but failed.
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