Back Print this page
Legalbrief   |   your legal news hub Sunday 14 December 2025

Man who killed foreigner gets life

A judge has told the murderer of a Pakistani businessman that he has a chance of meeting Jesus Christ in prison, where he will be serving his life sentence for what was described as a xenophobic attack. A News24 report notes that Bongani Mjoki Mnisi (26), from Naas near the Mozambican and Swaziland border, was sentenced in the Nelspruit circuit of the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) last week. 'You shot a foreigner. You'll be with people of your kind in jail. Learn trades like carpentry or others. You might meet Jesus Christ there, and come back preaching,' the report notes Judge Sipho Sithole said, when passing sentence. The report says Mnisi was arrested with Xolani Chauke (25) and Njabulo Mathonsi (27), following the attempted robbery and shooting of Abdul Rehman Ibrahim Patel. Chauke and Mathonsi were sentenced to life imprisonment in Mnisi's absence on 17 December last year after Mnisi absconded from court. The judge sentenced Mnisi to life imprisonment for murder, 10 years for attempted armed robbery, six years for illegal possession of a firearm and four years for illegal possession of ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently.