Man gets 14 years imprisonment for culpable homicide
The man convicted of seven counts of culpable homicide and reckless driving after a gruesome accident which happened in Tshidzini some four years ago, will have to spend 14 years in jail
LIMPOPO – Magistrate Mashudu Muzhelele sentenced Mphedziseni Mawela (29) to two years’ imprisonment for each of the seven deceased in the packed Sibasa Regional Court near Thohoyandou last Tuesday.
Before handing down the sentence, Muzhelele told the court the accused should understand the sentence was part of rehabilitating and correcting an accused so he or she could live a normal of life.
“No one has the right to end someone’s life and the accident has negatively affected the relatives of the deceased,” said Muzhelele.
The Sibasa Regional Court heard the vehicle in which Mawela was travelling at the time of the accident was not roadworthy. He was also driving faster than the allowed speed limit.
“We have accepted the sentence, but it will not bring our relatives back. What concerns me is that my sister, Thifhelimbilu Magwaligwa’s three children are now left orphaned,” said Flora Netshinyele, the elder sister of one of the victims. Netshinyele added that no one in the family is employed so they are now unable to take care of the three orphans.
Mawela’s car veered off the road along the busy village street at Tshidzini when he lost control of it.
“His car ploughed into a group of people who were returning home after a soccer game at the Tshidzini playground. Seven of them died and four, including the driver, were injured.
The deceased are Munei Munyai (12), Tsumbedzo Ravhanga (13), Vhusiwana Rangani (25), Thifhelimbilu Magaligwa (31), Kenneth Nemaungani (24), Wilson Ravhanga (71) and Daphne Mbedzi (26).
