The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela has sentenced 31-year-old Hitler Bongani Mnisi to life imprisonment for the murder of 25-year-old Thabisile Mashaba in 2023.
The court heard that on 11 June 2023, police received reports of a stabbing incident in Mkhuhlu, where the victim had been rushed to the hospital. Upon arrival, officers found Mashaba with multiple stab wounds, though she was unable to speak at the time.
Authorities initially opened a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. However, after three days in the hospital, Mashaba regained the ability to speak and informed the police that Mnisi, her acquaintance, had stabbed her following an argument.
As the investigation progressed, the charge was upgraded to attempted murder. Mashaba was discharged on 16 June 2023, but tragically, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away on 18 June 2023. A post-mortem examination confirmed that her death resulted from the stab wounds, leading to the addition of a murder charge.
Mnisi was arrested on 20 June 2023 and later convicted of murder on 09 April 2025 after the state presented a compelling case against him. On 25 June 2025, the court handed down a life sentence, ensuring justice for Mashaba’s brutal killing.
