LIFE AND 15 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR VIOLENT CRIMES
01 September 2025
LIFE AND 15 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR VIOLENT CRIMES
Nelspruit, Mpumalanga – The Nelspruit Regional Court has sentenced Themba Jimmy Nxuthu (33) to life imprisonment and an additional 15 years’ imprisonment for the murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances of a traditional healer, Thokozane Sam Swambane. The incident took place on 18 March 2023 at Kamagugu, Mbombela, where the deceased and his trainees were performing rituals at a nearby river. Nxuthu and two unknown accomplices ambushed the group, robbed them of valuables, and fatally shot Swambane. The perpetrators then fled in the deceased’s vehicle, which they used as a getaway car.
Following an intensive police investigation, Nxuthu was arrested and positively identified during an identity parade. In court, he pleaded not guilty and denied involvement. However, State Prosecutor Simon Mamabolo presented strong evidence, including credible eyewitness testimony and a postmortem report confirming that the cause of death was gunshot wounds. The court convicted Nxuthu as charged. In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Mamabolo argued that the accused had acted with a common purpose, displayed no remorse, and that no grounds existed to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence. The court agreed, finding no compelling circumstances to warrant a lesser sentence.
Nxuthu was sentenced as follows: Life imprisonment for murder and 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm. The sentences run concurrently, meaning Nxuthu will effectively serve life imprisonment.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes this conviction and sentence. Such outcomes provide justice and closure to victims’ families, while ensuring violent criminals are removed from society. These successful prosecutions are made possible through meticulous investigations and demonstrate the NPA’s firm commitment to prosecuting violent crime. Ends.
Issued by:
Monica Nyuswa
Regional Spokesperson
NPA Mpumalanga
Tel: 013 045 0625 / 076 485 5446
Email: mnyuswa@npa.gov.za