A young man who killed his father for not supporting his music career choice has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mbombela high court. Siphamandla Gift Khumalo (22) who felt his father was a stumbling block to his dream of becoming a musician pleaded guilty to the murder of 47-year-old Bheki Eric Khumalo.

NOT SUPPORTED 

Gift was staying with his mother while his father ran the family businesses in  Ermelo and Glenmore. His father visited the family on a regular basis. In his plea, he told the court that his relationship with his father became sour when he did not support him in his career of choice. He wanted to be a musician while his father wanted him to study engineering. The court heard that Gift felt that the deceased was a stumbling block towards his dream career.

THE MURDER

On the day of the murder, Gift left his family home in Mayflower to Ermelo, where the deceased was conducting business. Armed with a knife, Gift waited for his father to arrive. "When the deceased arrived, he produced a knife and fatally stabbed his father in the neck," spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa said.

SUSPECTED OF CONSPIRACY TO MURDER

State Advocate Eugene Mathebula handed in a victim impact statement compiled by the deceased's wife who is also Gift's mother. The mother detailed that she is now a widow and the community and the family suspect that she colluded with her son to kill the deceased. She further said that her husband was the sole breadwinner and now that he is gone, life has become a nightmare. In aggravation of the sentence Mathebula addressed the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence. He said the accused has caused grief to his mother and has taken away her soulmate. Judge Greyling Coetzer agreed with the state and found no compelling and substantial reasons to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence; she sentenced Gift to life imprisonment.

SENTENCE WELCOME

The National Prosecuting Authority in Mpumalanga welcomed the conviction and sentence in the matter. "We commend the good work done by the prosecutor and investigator. We encourage people to seek professional help when they encounter similar problems in their family conflicts," said Monica Nyuswa who is the NPA Regional Spokesperson in Mpumalanga.