MIDDELBURG - Themba Josiah Thubane (41) who was found guilty on various counts ranging from housebreaking, pointing of a firearm and kidnapping to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, murder and conspiracy to commit murder, will be sentenced during the Mpumlanga Division of the High Court’s sitting tomorrow, August 23. 

On January 28, Thubane, together with Thokozani Msibi (32), Knowledge Wezi Mhlanga (25) and Mthobisi Brilliant Mkhize (23), allegedly broke into a house in Vosman near Emalahleni. The suspects apparently pointed what looked like a firearm at the occupants of the house. They then kidnapped 15-month-old Welcome Nkosikhona Ngwenya and his niece 13-year-old Gabisile Shabane. The toddler was thrown into a river where he drowned. During testimony, the court heard how Gabisile was decapitated and some of her body parts removed, after which she was buried in a shallow grave in Cullinan, Gauteng.

The suspects appeared in court on Monday, August 19 where Thubane pleaded guilty to the charges against him. He told the court that the motive for Gabisile’s killing was to harvest her body parts for muthi purposes. Msibi, Mhlanga and Mkize, however, denied the allegations against them and were remanded in custody. They will reappear on May 25, 2020 and June 12, 2020 in the same court, respectively. Thubane will hear his fate tomorrow, August 23.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, reiterated that this was one of the most challenging cases handled by the SAPS in the province in recent times. He commended the hard work of the investigative team in bringing the perpetrators to book. He warned communities against the myth that killing a person with albinism will bring huge fortune and that perpetrators of such gastly acts will face the full might of the law.

Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Subeditor: Lynette Brink
Submitted by: Brig Leonard Hlathi