A life sentence has been handed to two brothers for the murder of a man they accused of stealing a door frame.
Image: Blue Diamond Gallery
After more than a decade, two brothers from Mpumalanga have been handed life sentences for the murder of a man they accused of theft. The sentencing took place in the eMalahleni Regional Court, bringing a long-delayed conclusion to a case that dates back to 2014.
Skhumbuzo Solly Mabena, 29, and Nkululeko Hendrick Mabena, 30, were convicted for the killing of Michael Mofokeng. The court heard that the tragedy began when the brothers accused Mofokeng of stealing a sliding door frame from their uncle’s residence.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the events unfolded on November 13, 2014, in the Hlalanikahle area. At the time of the offence, both accused were still school-going learners.
NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa detailed the sequence of events, explaining that the duo first kidnapped Mofokeng. “They held the victim captive in a cage at their home and then left to write their examinations,” Nyuswa stated. After returning from their exams, they transported Mokofeng to a local sports ground, where a group of community members joined them in assaulting him.
During the violent interrogation, Mofokeng was pressed to reveal an accomplice. Although he maintained he had acted alone, a community member implicated a second individual, Sipho Nkosi. One of the Mabena brothers then left the scene and located the 24-year-old Nkosi, bringing him back to the sports ground.
The assault on both men intensified. Tragically, Nkosi died from the injuries he sustained. Mofokeng, however, survived the attack and was later able to provide testimony in court. The Mabena siblings had entered pleas of not guilty, claiming that the community members were solely responsible for the assaults. This version was rejected by the court after Regional Court Prosecutor Ellen Mafata presented strong evidence, including testimony from the surviving victim, which clearly outlined the specific role each brother played in the crime.
The pair were ultimately found guilty on charges of murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping. In her argument, Prosecutor Mafata emphasized that the accused had chosen to act as vigilantes instead of reporting the alleged break-in to the police.
Passing sentence, Magistrate Combrinck denounced the brutal nature of the killing. He found no compelling circumstances to justify a departure from the prescribed minimum sentence. Subsequently, each brother was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, an additional eight years for attempted murder, and a further two years for kidnapping.
