Dumisani Mkhwanazi convicted of Palesa Madiba murder
After 7 long years, the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has found Dumisani Mkhwanazi guilty of the murder of Palesa Madiba.
The 21-year-old University of Johannesburg student went missing from her friend’s home in Soweto in August 2013 and it was only two years later that her skeletal remains were dug up from the same property.
Mkhwanazi was believed to have been behind the murder and cover-up.
Cheers could briefly be heard from the court room on Friday when Judge Prince Manyathi handed down the judgment.
“On the basis of the evidence and the reasons that I’ve already given in terms of the circumstantial evidence given, the court is of the view that the state has succeeded in proving count number 1 against the accused.
“The accused is hereby found guilty as charged in respect of charge number 1, murder. In respect of count number 2 of robbery - the accused is found guilty of theft, in respect of count number 3 defeating the ends of justice – the accused is found guilty as charged, in respect to count number 4, possession of unlicesnsed firearm - the accused is found guilty as charged, in respect of count number 5, that is possession of ammunition without a permit - the accused is also found guilty as charged,” Judge Manyathi said.
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A number of testimonies were key to securing a conviction against Mkhwanazi, including the testimony of his niece Matshidiso Mkhwanazi and his close friend, Zwelakhe Mahlangu.
Judge Manyathi rehashed details of a private conversation between the accused and Mahlangu where the accused admitted to killing Palesa Madiba.
Details of the conversation only surfaced two years after Madiba’s disappearance.
The judge reiterated that evidence brought forward by the state was all circumstantial but was enough to link Mkhwanazi to the heinous crime.
The matter was postponed to February for a pre-sentence report.
“This matter will therefore be postponed to 26 February 2021. Your attorney Mr Thinane is of the view that before the sentence can be imposed, a pre-sentence report has to be obtained and the state agrees to that.
“The accused is still in custody,” Judge Manyathi added.
