A 35-year-old Sibusiso Micheal Tshabalala has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Regional Court on Wednesday, 25 October 2022 for murder.
His sentence came after a 40-year-old Sakie Pieter Sondezi’s lifeless body was found laying at Railway Station with multiple stab wounds in September 2018.
The Police and the medical personnel as well as all relevant stakeholders were summoned to the scene. A hand glove with blood stains was discovered next to the victim’s body. He was certified dead by the paramedics on the scene.
A case of murder was opened by the Standerton Police.
A team of investigation was assembled and it ensured that the recovered glove with blood stained was taken in as a crucial item for forensic tests whereby DNA sampling were extracted from.
In May 2021 the accused was arrested after he was positively linked to the said murder through DNA. Tshabalala went through trial where the state presented overwhelming evidence against him and he was found guilty hence he was sentenced accordingly. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has expressed her gratitude to everyone who had contributed in one way or another in the case, including the investigation team, the Prosecution team, and the Judiciary. The General further indicated that their efforts has led to the commendable sentence.
