The Hadebe and Khoza families at Bethany Village in Bergville, KZN, are relieved.
This as a harsh sentence was handed down to the mass stabbing murderer, Mlamuli Khoza, who killed his five family members, including two kids.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Mlamuli to five life terms on Friday, 6 December.
Mlamuli pleaded guilty to five counts of murder and two of attempted murder. He brutally murdered Bheki Hadebe (62), Sonto Hadebe (60), Thulisile Hadebe (37), Andile Khoza (8), and Esihle Khoza (2) on Saturday, 12 October.
The gruesome incident sent shockwaves through the family and community, leaving a trail of trauma and grief in its wake.
As the perpetrator faced the full might of the law, the family and residents of Bethany Village welcomed the sentence as a testament to justice being served and reaffirmed the community’s unwavering commitment to upholding the values of humanity, compassion, and respect for life.
Family spokesman Casper Hadebe told Daily Sun they welcomed the judgment.
“We are grateful that justice has been served, and the perpetrator has been held accountable for the heinous crime committed against our loved ones.
“Though nothing can bring back our brutalised family members, we take comfort in knowing that their memories will live on and that their tragic passing will not be in vain. We hope that this sentence will serve as a warning to others and that our community can begin to heal from this traumatic incident,” he said.
During the mass funeral of the deceased, the family made it clear that they formally disowned the murderer.
The villagers also said that the murderer should rot in jail. Pinki Mazibuko, a neighbour to the victims, said the accused has no place in their village.
“We don’t want to see him in our village. He has been a violent person since his childhood. He has done so many things. He once broke my windows and door. He was always fighting with other children,” she said.
Khoza has been sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the five counts of murder of the Hadebe and Khoza family members. The mayor of Ukhahlamba Municipality, Vikizitha Mlotshwa, has since questioned the Department of Correctional Services’ parole board on which criteria they use to release dangerous prisoners.
He wants to know the process followed when releasing convicted and dangerous criminals back to the communities they had previously harmed.
Source: Daily Sun
