Ntokozo Brian Khumalo, a 36-year-old convicted double murderer, has been sentenced to two life imprisonments for the separate killings of his girlfriends, Lindokuhle Mbhele and Zinhle Zulu.

Khumalo had falsely claimed self-defence in Mbhele’s murder. 

On August 31, 2023, Khumalo assaulted and killed Mbhele in Tshelimnyama, just five months into their relationship. He then buried her body in a ditch in a neighbour’s yard.

Her decomposed remains were discovered two days later. Khumalo claimed he acted in self-defence following an argument.

Police linked Khumalo to Zulu’s murder, which occurred in March 2022 while he was living in KwaDabeka, after his arrest for Mbhele’s death. Following the assault on Zulu, Khumalo called her sister, Londeka Zulu.

Londeka testified that she found her sister motionless with bruises at Khumalo’s residence. He later disappeared from the clinic where Londeka had taken Zulu.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Muntukayise Khumalo stressed that domestic violence is a scourge in our society that must be deplored and severely punished. 

He stated that the offences committed by Khumalo strike at the core of an orderly society.

“The extent to which society has had to deal with many instances of femicide or gender-based violence cannot be underestimated.” 

The magistrate found that Khumalo showed no remorse in either case, noting that Khumalo insisted on his innocence despite the strong evidence against him.

He stated: “He caused the deceased’s loved ones to go through the horrible experience of hearing what happened to their loved one.” 

The court found no factual basis to consider Khumalo a candidate for rehabilitation, noting his heartless attitude towards his victims and failing to secure medical assistance after the assaults. 

In his plea for leniency, Khumalo stated that he was unmarried with four children all living with their mothers, had passed Grade 12, studied marketing, and was earning R9,000 as a graphic designer at UCAN upon his arrest. He claimed to have been raised by his grandmother after his mother left when he was six months old and had no previous convictions.

However, Magistrate Khumalo found no substantial circumstances that warranted deviating from the life sentences.

“Our courts have said there is no rule that a first offender is entitled to an out-of-prison sentence, no matter what he has done,” the magistrate said. 

In addition to the two life sentences, Khumalo received a four-year sentence for defeating the administration of justice and was declared unfit to possess a firearm. All sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za

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