Joy And Satisfaction For Families, As Serial Killer Gets 5 Life Terms And 25 Years Imprisonment

The Mpumalanga High Court has today sentenced Julius Thabiso Mndawe (28) from Masoyi to 5 life terms and 25 years imprisonment for murder and defeating the ends of justice. Mndawe was convicted of killing Tokie Tlaki (24), Banele Khoza (15), Noxolo Mdluli (17), Felicia Ndlovu (17) and Nomthandazo Mdluli (19) and buried their bodies in shallow graves in his place of residence in Numbi village near Masoyi. This happened between January 2018 and May 2019. All victims were reported missing by their families.

The accused was arrested in July 2019, after he was found in possession of Tlaki’s cellular phone. He confessed to the police by pointing out the graves where he buried the victims. In court, he pleaded guilty and indicated that he punched all the victims after he had a heated argument with all of them. However, the state did not accept some parts of his plea. Adv Zweletu Mata led evidence of the investigating officer who was present during the exhumation of the human remains of all the victims.  He gave a clear testimony on how the bodies were buried, and further testified about the pattern and how the graves were systematically dug. Mndawe was found guilty of five counts of premeditated murder and five counts of defeating the ends of justice.

Adv Mata argued that all murders could not have been committed at the spare of the moment, in light of the available evidence which indicated that all victims were young women, killed and buried in a systematic form in his yard. The post-morten reports also revealed that there was a certain pattern in how the victims were killed.  Acting Judge Greyling Coetzer found no substantial and compelling reasons to deviate from the ordained minimum sentence. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment on each count of murder, and five years’ imprisonment for each count of defeating the ends of justice. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm as part of the sentence.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is grateful for the sterling work done by Adv Zwelethu Matu and Sergeant Joseph Mnisi in ensuring that justice is served. “What is more pleasing is to see family members expressing joy and satisfaction with the sentence,” said the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Mr Sonja Ntuli.

Issued by

Monica Nyuswa

DPP Mpumalanga Regional Spokesperson

013-0450625 / 0764855446