| 2024/03/20 |
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Media Statement
NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has observed with much appreciation the two recent hefty sentences that were separately handed down to two murderers. Bonginkosi Neil Malope (38) is one of the accused persons that was sentenced by the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela to 20 years in prisonment for the murder of Ms Nontobeko Shirley Mkandawire at Kanyamazane in September 2022. Meanwhile the other accused person, by the name of Jeffrey Mnisi (35) was sentenced by the Mhala Regional Court to 15 years imprisonment for the murder Ms Mathilda Siwele (53) at Calcutta in March 2023. On the initial matter, the court heard that on 11 September 2022 members of the Police from Kanyamazane SAPS as well as Paramedics received a complaint about a lifeless body of a woman discovered inside a house at Tekwane South outside Nelspruit. Upon arrival, members found the body of Mkandawire laying on the ground with multiple injuries, but sadly, she was certified dead by the medical personnel. A murder case was then opened by the Police and an investigation was conducted which revealed that she was murdered by the accused who switched on the TV, at a high volume then locked the door thereafter, left the victim bleeding profusely inside the house. When he was done, he fled the scene. It was also revealed in court that, prior to the incident, the accused and the victim apparently had an argument on 10 September 2022. It was during this heated argument which culminated into the accused fatally stabbing the victim. Subsequent to that horrific event, the accused informed one of his family members about what he did. He later handed himself over to the Police and was arrested as well as charged accordingly. The accused was taken to court and the state presented a watertight case against him, which led to his conviction and subsequent sentencing to the 20 years imprisonment on Monday, 18 March 2024. Meanwhile on the other case, involving Jeffrey Mnisi, the court heard that on that dreadful day (02 March 2023) around 15h00, the Police in Calcutta received information about a lifeless body of a woman at a certain liquor outlet in Justicia Trust which is within Calcutta Policing Precinct, near Bushbuckridge. Upon arrival at the scene, members found Siwele’s body lying on the ground. She was unfortunately certified dead by paramedics at the scene. A murder case was opened and after an investigation was conducted, it was unearthed that the accused used a wooden mortar to attack the female victim, then fled the scene thereafter, leaving her behind helplessly. The accused was traced and arrested by the Police at his residence. He was charged with murder and attended his first appearance at the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court on 06 March 2023. The case was later transferred to the High Court where the state presented overwhelming evidence which the defence could not successfully dispute hence the accused was incarcerated to 15 years on 12 March 2024.
It is against this backdrop that the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela deemed it fit to also appreciate the investigation team, the Prosecution team as well as the Judiciary for their collaborative efforts which culminated to this enormous sentence.
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