The Tembisa Magistrates Court has handed down a significant sentence to Thabang Malebelela, convicting him for murder and attempted murder following a violent altercation that began as an argument over electricity.
The court heard that on the evening of September 27, 2022, Malebelela, a resident of the Dali Mpofu informal settlement, became involved in a heated argument with two men, Vusumuzi Khumalo and Sibusiso Matsinge. The dispute centred on the reconnection of electricity during a power outage in the area.
Despite being reprimanded by one of the victim’s girlfriends, the situation escalated dramatically when Malebelela produced a knife and stabbed both Khumalo and Matsinge multiple times in their upper bodies.
Both victims were rushed to Esangweni Clinic for initial treatment before being transferred to Tembisa Tertiary Hospital. Tragically, Sibusiso Matsinge succumbed to his injuries. Vusumuzi Khumalo survived the attack.
Facing threats of community violence, Malebelela subsequently handed himself over to the Ivory Park police.
The case was then assigned to Warrant Officer Ponny Nyatlo, who was commended for a thorough investigation that left “no stone unturned.” The diligent work on the docket provided a sense of relief to the victims’ families, culminating in the sentencing by Magistrate Mahlangu.
The sentence was delivered as follows:
-
Count 1: Murder – Fifteen (15) years imprisonment.
-
Count 2: Attempted Murder – Five (5) years imprisonment.
The court ordered that the sentence for Count 2 run concurrently with the sentence for Count 1, resulting in an effective 15-year prison term. Furthermore, Thabang Malebelela was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
