Palesa Madiba’s family gets closure as ’arrogant’ Dumisani Mkhwanazi is slapped with 31- year prison term
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Dumisani Mkhwanazi was handed down a 31-year imprisonment sentence for killing University of Johannesburg student Palesa Madiba in 2013.
Johannesburg - The “catch me if you can” arrogance of Dumisani Mkhwanazi has finally come to an end.
Mkhwanazi was handed down a 31-year imprisonment sentence at the South Gauteng High Court for killing University of Johannesburg student Palesa Madiba in 2013.
Judge Prince Manyathi said women and children were pinning their hopes on courts for protection against gender-based violence perpetrators.
Madiba was declared missing after she went for a sleepover at Tshidi Mkhwanazi’s house in Phiri, Soweto. Tshidi is Mkhwanazi’s niece.
He is believed to have hidden Madiba’s body behind Tshidi’s house after killing her. The body was found after a neighbour spotted an arm protruding from a shallow grave behind the house in December 2015.
Gauteng Social Development probation officer Phephisile Sibitane told the court that Madiba’s mother found it difficult to cope after her daughter went missing.
“She tried to attend counselling but it was unfortunate that she had not come to terms with the fact that her daughter was not around any more.”
In her testimony, Sibitane revealed that the family had exhausted their means trying to find their missing daughter.
“Night vigil campaigns were held and a private investigator was also hired by the family to find Palesa.”
Sibitane revealed that the family spent close to R100 000 on the funeral, night vigil campaigns and hiring private investigators.
The court also heard Madiba’s friend, Tshidi Mkhwanazi, was not part of any campaigns which were held by the family.
Prosecutor Faghre Mohamed argued that Mkhwanazi knew what he was doing and Madiba’s murder was premeditated.
“The accused calculated every move he made and knew the movements of the people at the house where he buried the deceased.”
Mohamed said the accused displayed arrogance and did not show any remorse during his pre-trial.
Mkhwanazi was sentenced to 20 years for murder, 10 years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, three years for the theft of a cellphone, eight years for defeating the ends of justice and two years for the possession of ammunition.
Judge Manyathi said the sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition would run concurrently, along with the sentence for murder.
Madiba’s mother, Khosi Kgalisitwe, said the family would finally have closure and live in peace.
“We can now start our recovery process, it has been a difficult journey and it has been challenging. We are satisfied that it has now come to an end.”
The Star