The High Court of Bloemfontein, sitting in Botshabelo, handed down heavy sentences to the murderers of a man who was a teacher, Fezile Mnyobisi who was 35 years old.
Halimmah Thamando Mnyobisi (wife of the deceased aged 38) was sentenced to life imprisonment, Vusimuzi Daniel Nqele (43) and UMoeketsi Innocent Manko (35) who are said to be the killers were sentenced to life imprisonment. Abdool Rahman Thamando (35-year-old brother of the bride) was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
They were found guilty of murder, in accordance with the terms of Section 51(1) Part I of Schedule 2 of Act 105 of 1997 (Premeditated murder).
On Friday, 15 September 2023, the Botshabelo police received a report from the local hospital about allegations of a crime, and rushed there. When they arrived, it was reported that Fezile Mnyobisi (35), a teacher at Refihlile primary school in C-Section, had been brought to the hospital by his wife by car. Unfortunately, he was confirmed dead when he arrived at the hospital. The initial investigation revealed that the deceased was badly injured, with more than 30 stab wounds on his body. Botshabelo police initially opened a case of murder and robbery. After a thorough and interdisciplinary investigation, carried out by the Provincial Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management Unit) and the Investigative Psychology Section), arrest warrants were issued for the suspects.
The investigation led to the arrest of the killers, Vusimuzi Daniel Nqele and Moeketsi Innocent Manko, who were arrested on Friday, 8 November 2024, for murder and conspiracy to murder. The extensive investigation that followed led to the arrest of Abdul Rahman Thamando. The last piece of this story was found on 26 November 2024 at around 4pm (16:00). After following various leads based on the information gathered, the investigation team found the deceased’s wife, Halimmah Thamando Mnyobisi, who had run away. She was found hiding in a luxury residence in Sandton, Gauteng province, where she lived with her boyfriend. He was arrested and joined the other suspects.