The Pietermaritzburg High Court in South Africa has sentenced 38-year-old Sthembiso Nkosinathi Mthimkhulu to six life terms for the murder of six family members in February 2021 in the Nkanini area of Eshowe.
According to a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Thursday, 12 December 2024, the tragic incident was preceded by the death of one of Mthimkhulu’s relatives.
Believing that his uncle had used witchcraft to cause the relative’s death, Mthimkhulu planned to murder him, deciding to use a firearm to carry out the act.
On 20 February 2021, Mthimkhulu drove to his uncle’s homestead, where his uncle and family members were gathered. He opened fire on them, killing six people, including two children aged eight and ten. Mthimkhulu fled the scene but was arrested after his vehicle was tracked to Greytown, where he had visited a traditional healer.
During the trial, Advocate Mbongeni Chamane presented eyewitness testimony as part of the state’s case. Additionally, Victim Impact Statements, compiled by the deceased’s grandchildren with the support of Court Preparation Officers Nokuvela Mlotshwa and Amanda Nxumalo, were submitted.
One of the children conveyed her trauma through drawings, depicting herself smiling before the incident and crying after it. The older grandchild recounted that, having lost her parents at a young age, her grandparents (the deceased) had been like parents to her. She expressed how their deaths have left the family deeply traumatised, living in fear and anxiety.
In addition to the life sentences, Mthimkhulu was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA praised the efforts of both the Prosecution and the Police. “It is our duty to fight for justice on behalf of victims of crime. We hope that stringent sentences like this demonstrate our commitment to combating crime,” the statement concluded.
