A Soweto woman who kidnapped, drugged, and murdered four-year-old Keeya Mbulawa and stuffed her in a luggage bag will spend the next thirty years in prison. Nonhlelelwa Matsebula (34), who was sentenced by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, today, was also ordered to serve 20 years of the sentence before she could be considered for parole.

KILLED HER FOR RANSOM

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said investigations by police officer Captain Isaac Khubeka revealed that on 13 January last year, Matsebula joined the children who were playing hide and seek in the yard in Protea Glen. She was a tenant on a property occupied by the girl's family. Khubeka's investigations revealed that the convicted murderer intentionally kidnapped Mbulawa with the intent to extort money from her parents. Mojonondwane said Matsebula gave the girl juice laced with tablets to make her sleep. "She tied a cable around her neck and placed a sock in her mouth. The accused then placed the deceased in a suitcase and attempted to leave the scene but was confronted by the deceased's mother," Mjonondwane said, adding that Matsebula abandoned the suitcase and disappeared. She was arrested six weeks after being on the run.

SHE PLEADED GUILTY

In court, Matsebula pleaded guilty and acknowledged that her actions were wrongful and unlawful. According to Mjonondwane, State Advocate Colleen Ryan stated that the accused had the full intention of extorting the deceased parents and that it was cruel for the accused to have given the parents hope by allowing them to believe that their child was still alive when in fact she was already dead. "The NPA welcomes the sentence as it reflects the gravity of the senseless and tragic crime, ensuring that justice is served for the victim and the family while sending a strong message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated in society."