Man slapped with life sentence brutal murder of girlfriend

A MAN who had brutally assaulted and murdered his new girlfriend, will serve a life sentence behind bars for the heinous deed, to which he pleaded guilty.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

This week, the Polokwane High Court sentenced 32-year-old Nhlanhla Gift Mathye from Dennilton to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his 54-year-old girlfriend.

He was also sentenced to an additional 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and 10 years for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences will run concurrently.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said when pleading to the charges he faced, Mathye said in his statement, made in terms of Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, that he and the deceased had been in a romantic relationship for only two months.

“On 24 September (last year), she invited him to accompany her on a visit to her AVBOB Funeral Insurance clients in the B90 farm area in the Sekhukhune district. They met at the Groblersdal Mall and drove together to the location. Due to poor road conditions, they left the vehicle and proceeded on foot.