Umgababa murderer sentenced heavily

JUSTICE was served recently when a 60-year-old man was sentenced to two life terms for killing two elderly women on Women’s Day in Umgababa earlier this year.

Also read: Umgababa murder accused cries in court

Thokozani blamed the devil for the gruesome crime as he stood in the dock, pleading with the court to be lenient on him. He appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on October 23 for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to the murders of Zanele Doris Mbuso (61) and Monica Sophie Xulu (81). Mhlongo had been employed by Xulu as a security guard at Xulu’s Ethembeni Créche and had been staying on the premises as he had nowhere else to live. Mbuso also worked at the same créche as a cook.

On August 9, the two women had gone to Amanzimtoti to do some shopping for an event that was to take place the next day. Later that day, their families could not reach them on their cellphones, and the search for them started. Their bodies were found a week later in a shallow grave at the créche. Subsequent police investigation led to the arrest of Mhlongo who would go on to admit to killing the women. He said he had shared some personal information with Xulu and had asked her not to tell anyone. Mhlongo told the court that he had become upset when he heard people gossiping about the same personal information that he had shared with Xulu. He also said Mbuso had accused him of stealing food in the créche’s kitchen meant for learners.

On the day of the murder, Mhlongo said he confronted the two women and after an argument, he tied them up and strangled them to death. A police sniffer dog helped find the grave they were both buried in.

Pleading for leniency, Mhlongo asked Judge Nompumelelo Radebe to consider that he had admitted to the crime.

“I apologise to the families. I really don’t know how this happened – the devil whispered in my ear. I want to say that the court should show mercy on me because I didn’t run away after committing these crimes. Because of my confession, I didn’t waste the court’s time,” he said.

Judge Radebe sentenced Mhlongo to a life sentence for each of the murders, plus three years for robbery as he had taken the women’s cellphones after killing them.

In a statement, Mbuso’s family thanked everyone who helped solve the case and those who offered support.

“We thank the Umkomaas SAPS, the SAPS Search and Rescue K9 Unit, Brigadier Vela Cele and the District Task Team, Renegades Search and Rescue, media houses, and the community of Umgababa. Your love and support have given the family strength and courage. The healing process begins now,” it said.

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