KZN man, Mlamuli Khoza sentenced to five life terms for brutally killing five of his relatives

Mlamuli Mondli Khoza has been handed five terms of life sentence after he pleaded guilty to brutally killing five of his relatives in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal.

The 28-year-old was sentenced by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday.

Khoza stabbed his family members on October 12, 2024; an elderly woman, a woman with a disability, his uncle, and two girls aged two and eight. 

The provincial National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said Khoza claimed that a day before the murders, he had been watching soccer and drinking at a tavern.

"He suspects that at some point, someone had put something in his drink. The following day, on October 2, 2024, he was at his home when his aunt and her family came over to visit. They were sitting at the dining room table when his mother offered him some food. He became angry and ignored her. He said that for some time he had suspected that his mother had bewitched him.

"Khoza said he then went into the kitchen and fetched a knife. He returned to the dining room and stabbed his relatives including three adults, one male and two females, and two minor children," said Ramkisson-Kara.

Ramkisson-Kara said after the murders, Khoza took the knife and fled the house. He returned later and handed himself over to the police who were already at the scene.

"He said that during the commission of the offences, he was aware that his actions were unlawful but continued. He also mentioned that he was truly apologetic and remorseful for his actions," added Ramkisson-Kara.

During aggravation of the sentence, advocate Zinhle Sokhela produced victim impact statements compiled by family members of the deceased.

"Children of one of the deceased adult females said that their mother was a loving person. They now live in endless agony and shock, and the image of their mother's lifeless body is forever on their minds.

"Other family members said that they do not wish to see Khoza ever again. They live in fear, and terror, and hope that the court will give him a fitting sentence," explained Ramkisson-Kara.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

IOL News