Saneliso Tshabalala, a 23-year old South African has been sentenced to life imprisonment after his mother reported him to the police for murder and kidnapping.
Tshabalala was sentenced by The Ezakheni Regional Court for the murder of Sithembe Mabizela, robbery and kidnapping which he committed in Ladysmith in March 2023.
Mabizela and his friend Siyabonga Makhaza were attacked and robbed in their rented cottage in Ezakheni by four intruders on March 7, after which the attackers forced them to a nearby bridge and asked them to jump off.
While Makhaza managed to escape despite being stabbed, Mabizela was not able to flee and was later found deceased by police.
Police began investigation into the incident and the breakthrough came after Tshabalala reportedly confessed to his mother his role in the death of the victim.
Tshabalala thought his mother was going to cover him up but was shocked when she turned him in to the police which led to the arrest of Ngwenya who also took part in the attack.
The prosecutor, Cwayita Ngcongo, told the court that the victim was nearing the completion of his studies and had promised his grandmother to take care of her.
Both Tshabalala and Ngwenya were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, 15 years for housebreaking and robbery, and five years for each kidnapping charge, all to run concurrently. Additionally, the court declared both men unfit to possess firearms.
