Mpumalanga man kills his aunt for practising “witchcraft “
A man from Mpumalanga who accused his aunt of witchcraft and killed her last year received a life sentence on Tuesday. Furthermore, the Mbombela high court also imposed an additional 17-year sentence on Raymond Mahlasela Mtshali, aged 30, for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. This 17-year sentence will be served concurrently with his life sentence.
“Evidence revealed that on May 10 2022, the accused visited the deceased, Modjadji Mtshali, and found her watching television with children.
“A few minutes later, he went to the restroom and came back armed with a firearm and shot Modjadji several times,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.
According to TimesLive Mtshali subsequently fled to KwaZulu-Natal after killing his aunt for allegedly practising witchcraft but voluntarily surrendered to the police five days later.
During the trial, Mtshali pleaded not guilty.
State advocate Antoinette Nkosi presented the testimony of various witnesses, including the deceased’s granddaughter, who confirmed to having witnessed the accused firing shots at the deceased.
In arguing for a harsher sentence, Nkosi pointed out that the accused displayed no remorse for his actions throughout the trial.
Nkosi further noted that the accused failed to provide any compelling or substantial reasons for the court to depart from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment for the charge of murder.
“The NPA welcomes the sentence imposed on the accused and stands against violence directed at women, children and elderly people,” Nusrat