TWO LIFE TERMS AND 13 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR GRANDMOTHERS’ KILLER
13 MAY 2025
TWO LIFE TERMS AND 13 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR GRANDMOTHERS’ KILLER
The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced Nkosiyethu Exon Makhunga (37) to double life and 13 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty (Section 112 Plea) to murdering two elderly women in February 2024 in the Ingwavuma area. Makhunga also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. The two women, Hlalaphi Jane Mngomezulu (79) and Nomhlangano Mngomezulu (86), were sisters who were related to Makhunga, and Nomhlangano was his paternal grandmother.
In his plea, Makhunga said that on 20 February 2024, he and his brother went to consult a traditional doctor (inyanga). The inyanga told him that the two deceased were bewitching him (Makhunga). He and his brother then returned home and drank some alcohol. Then, at around 9 pm, Makhunga heard a goat making noises outside. Makhunga said that when he went outside, what he saw confirmed certain things that the inyanga had told him earlier during the consultation.
Makhunga then changed into an overall and decided to go and confront the deceased about their alleged mistreatment and bewitching of him. He armed himself with a bush-knife and took his brother’s firearm from the safety locker. At the grannies’ homestead (they lived together), he kicked down the door and found them sitting together. He shot Hlalaphi and then hacked her to death with the bush-knife. He then hacked her sister to death. Makhunga went back home, where he told his family what he had done. Thereafter, he fled the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and went to the Kingdom of Eswatini. He was arrested the following day in Eswatini and detained at a police station there.
Advocates from the International Cooperation Component (ICC) within the DPP KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Adv. Deneshree Naicker and Adv. Naveen Sewparsat worked on a formal request for Makhunga to be extradited. This request, which was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Adv. Elaine Harrison was transmitted through diplomatic channels to Eswatini.
Following an extradition enquiry in Eswatini, the court found Makhunga liable for extradition. The Eswatini Prime Minister confirmed the Magistrate’s ruling and issued an order to surrender Makhunga to South Africa (SA). Makhunga was handed over to Interpol SA officials and was subsequently arrested on his arrival in SA by the Investigating Officers.
In court, the state, represented by Adv. Pretty-Girl Thobile Ntsele handed in a Victim Impact Statement facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Sthembile Cebekhulu and compiled by one of the family members of the deceased. In the statement, the man said that the incident has traumatised his entire family, and they are devastated by the loss of their two elders. He said that while Makhunga was still at large, the family lived in fear.
Makhunga was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment for each of the two counts of murder, 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and three years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in the effective sentence of life imprisonment.
This case illustrates the effectiveness of processes within the NPA to extradite fugitives who have sought to hide outside SA. It further benchmarks the strong diplomatic relationship and commitment between the Kingdom of Eswatini and SA in executing their obligations under the Treaty to ensure that fugitives are brought to book for the offences they have committed in the respective countries.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
071 6700 229