The Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu Natal sentenced a man and his three friends to various terms of imprisonment after they were convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Siyabonga Shelembe (37), Thandolwethu Sibisi (23), Sphelele Cele (21) and Thobani Mkhize (24) all from Pietermaritzburg were sentenced on Monday.

KZN National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramakisson-Kara said that before the incident, Shelembe requested the assistance of Sibisi to kill his aunt, Tholakele Cynthia Shelembe (53) who was a teacher. "Shelembe believed that his aunt was successful because she was practising witchcraft and bewitching family members. Sibisi then sought the assistance of Cele and Mkhize to kill Tholakele,"Kara said. On 07 November 2021, Sibisi, Cele and Mkhize travelled from Umlazi to the Nyangwini area in the Ugu district where they met Shelembe. "He advised them of his plan to kill Tholakele. He further told them that they should take both of her motor vehicles, as their payment. Later that day, Sibisi, Cele and Mkhize went to Tholakele's homestead. There they hit her with a knobkerrie given to them by Shelembe and Mkhize strangled her to death. They then reported to Shelembe that she was dead and drove her two motor vehicles back to Umlazi," she said.

Kara said that one of the vehicles was burned and the other was sold, and the young men shared the proceeds of the sale amongst themselves. Shelembe was arrested the following day as someone had seen him when the men were taking Tholakele's vehicles. Based on his confession, his co-accused were subsequently arrested. "In the state's case, Advocate Nkonzo Mlotshwa led the evidence of a Section 204 witness, who had been with the men when they committed the offences. Also, their confession statements were admitted in court as evidence. In a victim impact statement by Tholakele's daughter, she said that her mother was a pillar of strength to their family, and she had supported many family members who were now struggling to cope. Tholakele's pastor described her as a reliable force in the church and the community at large."

Shelembe and Mkhize were sentenced to life imprisonment each while Sibisi and Cele were sentenced to 25 years and 18 years imprisonment, respectively. "The court deviated from the minimum sentence of life imprisonment for them as the court ruled that they were young when they committed these offences. Sibisi was 20 years old and Cele was 18 years old at the time of the offence," Kara said, adding that the court also considered that they had testified in mitigation of the sentence, and they had apologised to Tholakele's family. For the robbery with aggravating circumstances charge, Shelembe and Mkhize were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each, while Sibisi and Cele were sentenced to 12 years and 10 years imprisonment, respectively. Their application for leave to appeal against both conviction and sentence was dismissed.