'Witch' killer sentenced twenty two years
A 20-year-old hired killer who received R1250 for murdering a suspected witch was jailed for 22 years on Monday by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Mshushihsi Duma, of Howick, told the court he agreed to help murder Tabiwa Rambai when he and alleged accomplice Sbo Hlongwane were offered R6000.
On July 19, he battered Rambai's head with a hammer, while Hlongwane allegedly stabbed him 12 times with a knife, he told the court.
They then carried his body to a railway line where they left it.
The post mortem found Rambai died of head injuries.
Duma said he and Hlongwane received only R2500, which they shared.
Judge Portia Poyo-Dlwati found they had shown no respect for Rambai's rights, and she shuddered to think he was killed for R2500.
She said Duma lacked maturity and had been unable to withstand the lure of the money offered for the murder.
She imposed a lesser sentence than the prescribed life term because he was a young, first offender who had pleaded guilty, and who was a suitable candidate for rehabilitation.
Duma has offered to testify for the State in any other cases arising from the murder.
(File photo: Gallo images)