Actress' killer gets 25 years in jail

Siyabonga Mbatha, the man who murdered iKani actress Thandeka Mdeliswa, has been sentenced to 25 years for murder, 15 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and three years' for unlawful possession of ammunition, The Citizen reports. According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Judge Bruce Langa ordered that the 10 years' imprisonment in respect of the sentence on count two, and three years' imprisonment in respect of count three run concurrently with the sentence of 25 years. The sentence was handed down at the Mpumalanga High Court (Middelburg), after Mbatha pleaded guilty. In his plea statement, Mbatha told the court that on 3 September 2020, he and his friend Ndabandaba went to collect a cellphone from the deceased’s brother in Evander. Upon arrival, an argument over money that was allegedly taken by Mdeliswa‘s brother ensued. Mbatha further detailed how Mdeliswa, who had heard the commotion, came out of her vehicle to intervene. He then recalled how he took Ndabandaba’s firearm and shot her in the neck and fled the scene. Charges against the pair were initially withdrawn as they could not be linked to the crime. Thandeka Mdeliswa’s mother testified in aggravation of sentence, saying her health had declined drastically due to stress since the murder. Senior state advocate Bakedi Maoke also addressed the court about the prevalence of gender-based violence in SA and said the court had a duty to impose sentences that would reflect the community’s anger towards these types of crimes.