Sibusiso Michael Tshabalala (35) has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Standerton Regional Court on Wednesday, October 26 for murder.
His sentence came after 40-year-old Sakie Pieter Sondezi’s body was found at the railway station in Standerton with multiple stab wounds in September 2018.
Police and medical personnel, as well as all relevant stakeholders were summoned to the scene. A glove with blood stains was discovered next to the victim’s body.
He was certified dead by the paramedics on the scene. Standerton Police opened a case of murder.
A team of investigators was assembled who ensured that the glove was taken in as a crucial item for forensic tests.
According to police, DNA-sampling was extracted. The accused was arrested in May 2021 after he was positively linked to the murder through DNA.
Tshabalala went to trial and the state presented evidence against him and he was found guilty. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, expressed her gratitude to everyone who had contributed in one way or another to the case, including the investigation team, the prosecution team and the judiciary.
The General indicated that their efforts have led to the commendable sentence.
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