Daggakraal man insists he lost his temper before fatally assaulting his 75-year-old mother
A 43-year-old Mpumalanga was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his 75-year-old mother. The Regional Court in Amersfoort convicted Thami Sydney Mnyandu after a police investigation into the death of his mother, Ntobizodwa Masina.
According to police, the incident took place in Sinqobile, near Daggakraal, where officers responded to reports of an elderly woman who had been severely assaulted. Upon arrival, officers found Masina lying unconscious in the yard with serious facial injuries.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe said officers entered the house and found Mnyandu, who confirmed that the injured woman was his mother. He allegedly told police that the two had argued and that he lost his temper before assaulting her.
Masina was rushed to the hospital, where medical staff discovered additional injuries, including a wound under her left breast and a cut on her forehead.
Mnyandu was initially charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Police later established that a protection order had previously been issued against him, barring him from assaulting, threatening, or insulting his mother.
Masina died a few days after being discharged from the hospital, succumbing to the injuries she had sustained. The charge was subsequently changed to murder, leading to Mnyandu’s conviction and life sentence.
Acting provincial police commissioner in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the sentence and praised the work of Detective Sergeant Mahlaba, whose investigation secured the conviction.
The SAPS reiterated its zero tolerance for gender-based violence and crimes against vulnerable members of society, with Mkhwanazi expressing hope that the life sentence would bring comfort to the family.
This story was first published on IOL in November 2025.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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