JOHANNESBURG - Aphelele Tshangela, a 33-year-old man from Eastern Cape, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his relative, Sandi Tshangela.
Sandi was killed in a mob attack on 14 September 2021; among those parts of the incident was Tshangela and five other participants.
According to Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the court heard how Sandi had set a man's house alight following an altercation between the two at a local tavern.
READ | UPDATE: Zolani Tete murder case postponed
Tshangela and others searched for him throughout the night before finding him the following morning.
“They found [Sandi] at approximately 6am the following morning and subjected him to a prolonged assault, beating him with sticks and dragging him along the ground with a rope. The assault continued for several hours, and the deceased died at approximately 11am,” Tyali detailed.
Tyali said five of the participants pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 25 years in prison each.
READ | State alleges funeral policy claim at heart of four-month-old baby's murder plot
However, Tshangela pleaded not guilty, resulting in his trial being separated from that of his co-accused, Tyali added.
“Among the compelling evidence presented by the state was the testimony of his accomplices, who placed him at the scene and implicated him in the attack. Tshangela also made admissions during the trial and conceded that he had played a leading role in the incident. He was subsequently convicted of murder.”
Tyali said the NPA reiterates that vigilantism is not justice and that it remains committed to “prosecuting perpetrators of violent crime and ensuring that justice is delivered for victims, their families and affected communities”.