By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
On 21 January, the High Court of Pretoria sentenced Sipho Frans Mahlangu (37) of Mamelodi Est to 12 years in jail for the murder of Phindile Christabel Nsingwane.
Mahlangu was also disqualified from owning a firearm.
Mahlangu was convicted of murdering the mother of two kids, a boy (10) and a girl (07) on February 4, 2021.
According to Lumka Mahanjana NPA Regional Spokesperson, Mahlangu arrived at the home he shared with the deceased.
“Upon his arrival, he saw a man run out (from the house). That’s when he went inside the house and found the deceased naked on top of the bed.
“A fight broke out between the two. Mahlangu started assaulting the deceased with a plank, shovel and broken bottle in the presence of children,” said Mahanjana.
Mahanjana said that afterward he left with the children. The next morning, early in the morning, Mahlangu asked the neighbour to go check the house.
“The neighbor went and found the lifeless body of the deceased on top of the bed,”Mahanjana said.
Mahlangu was arrested the same day at his mom’s house in KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga. He has been held in detention after his bail application has been refused since his arrest.
The state called for the maximum penalty as Mahlangu committed the offence in the presence of very young children.
However, the judge declared in his judgment that Mahlangu will have to live the rest of his life with what he did. Adding that his children are never going to respect him for his actions.
The deceased’s brother, who is now the primary caregiver of the children, testified in court that the children were not coping, and that they call out their mother in their sleep.
He said they were also not performing well at school, such that the young one failed the previous year. However, children attend counseling sessions.
” The NPA welcomes the sentence and is thankful for the diligent work done by the investigation officer Sergeant Moloko Jack Diphofa that led to the conviction and sentencing,” added Mahanjana.