Man gets life for hacking wife to death with panga

A 53-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for hacking his wife to death with a panga after refusing to let her join community members celebrating New Year's Eve.

Augusto Manhama Machaira, a Mozambican national, was sentenced by the Tzaneen Regional Court for the murder of his wife at their home in Rasewana Village, in the Bolobedu area of Limpopo.

The murder took place on 31 December 2024.

Machaira refused to allow his wife to leave the house to join the community celebrations. He then picked up a panga and struck her several times on the back of the head.

She died at the scene.

Machaira left her lying in a pool of blood before handing himself over to police at Bolobedu Police Station.

The couple's three children were playing outside when the attack happened.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the children had effectively been left without both parents following the murder, with the court finding that the crime had severely disrupted their lives and traumatised the community.

Machaira pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Brown Ramohlola led evidence from witnesses, including neighbours, and proved the State's case beyond reasonable doubt.

In aggravation of sentence, the prosecution argued that the murder was particularly brutal and had shocked the community.

The State also told the court that Machaira had threatened to kill his wife days before the attack, arguing that the murder was premeditated.

Presiding Officer Antoinette Laminga condemned violence by men against women and found that Machaira had shown no remorse.

The NPA welcomed the life sentence, describing it as an appropriate response to the continuing scourge of gender-based violence and femicide.

The investigation was conducted by Constable Khosa of Kgapane Police Station.