A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional 15 years behind bars for the brutal murder and robbery of a young medical doctor in Elukwatini three years ago.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), through regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, welcomed the sentence handed down by the Elukwatini Regional Court against Clement Njabulo Nhlabathi for the murder of 27-year-old Dr Mthunzi Zwane.
According to the NPA, Zwane had gone to Stars Local Tavern in Nhlazatshe 1, Elukwatini, on 6 July 2023 to buy alcohol when he was targeted by a group of men. As he left the tavern, they followed him to a nearby bridge where they attacked him with a knife while demanding his bank card and PIN.
The NPA said Zwane handed over his bank card and PIN, but after the attackers realised he was no longer breathing, they pushed his body into the river, where he drowned.
The group then returned to the tavern and used Zwane’s bank card several times to buy alcohol until the transaction limit was reached before discarding the card.
His body was discovered the following day, and police investigations led to the arrest of the accused after one of them pointed out where the bank card had been thrown away.
Nhlabathi was initially charged alongside Lwazi Panel Motha, Sakhile Siphamandla Nkosi, Nthatheng Hopewell Makhanya and Nkosenhle Prince Masina. However, after the co-accused pleaded not guilty, the State successfully applied for a separation of trials.
During his trial, Nhlabathi pleaded guilty to murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, admitting that his actions were unlawful.
The defence argued that he had shown remorse by pleading guilty and asked the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
However, State Prosecutor Mxolisi Biyela argued that the guilty plea was driven by the overwhelming evidence against the accused, including eyewitness testimony, a confession and evidence obtained through a pointing-out during the investigation, rather than genuine remorse.
The prosecution also told the court that Zwane was a young, qualified doctor with a promising future whose death had devastated not only his family but the entire Elukwatini community.
A victim impact statement compiled by Zwane’s sister, with the assistance of Court Preparation Officer Nondumiso Thwala, detailed the emotional and financial toll of his death. She told the court that after losing both their parents, Zwane had been her only immediate family member and financial support, and that their dream of building a family home together had been destroyed.
Before sentencing, the court found that the offences were exceptionally serious and brutal and ruled that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence.
Nhlabathi was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and an additional 15 years’ direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The criminal case against the remaining co-accused has been postponed to 29 September 2026 in the same court.
Welcoming the outcome, Nyuswa said the sentence reflects the gravity of the offences and demonstrates the justice system’s commitment to holding violent offenders accountable. She also commended State Prosecutor Mxolisi Biyela, the investigating team, Court Preparation Officer Nondumiso Thwala and all other role players for securing the conviction and sentence.
