Lengthy sentence for Cape Town artist
The Western Cape High Court has sentenced painter and photographer Zwelethu Mthethwa to 18 years in prison for the murder of sex worker Nokuphila Khumalo.
23-year-old Khumalo was killed in Woodstock in Cape Town in 2013.
The Sex Workers Education & Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) has welcomed the sentence.
The organisation’s Nosipho Validima says they are happy the judge took the nature of the crime into consideration when passing sentence.
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"We are happy with the sentencing of 18 years, which is above the minimum of 13 years for first offenders. We are happy that the judge realised the intensy of the crime committed to a woman who was a sex worker. In her sentencing the judge did highlight that killing and crimes against sex workers will not be tolerated by the criminal justice system.”
She says the organisation hopes those who commit similar crimes in future will also receive harsh sentences.