Two employees from Carolina, Mpumalanga, have been handed 25-year prison sentences each for the brutal murder of their female employer during a robbery at her home.
Andile Sibusiso Shongwe and Muzi ‘Mandoza’ Jele were convicted after the court found they had planned and carried out the killing of their boss, before stealing items and cash from her residence. The pair had been working for the woman at the time of the incident.
According to the state’s case, the two men turned on the woman they were employed by, killing her in cold blood before ransacking the property. The murder was described as premeditated, with the robbery as the motive.
The Mpumalanga High Court did not find any substantial and compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence than the prescribed minimum for murder. In handing down the 25-year terms, the judge emphasized the seriousness of the crime and the betrayal of trust involved.
Violent crimes against employers by domestic workers or staff have been a growing concern in Mpumalanga, with courts increasingly taking a hard line to send a deterrent message. The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentence, saying it reflects the judiciary’s commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens and holding perpetrators accountable.
The case adds to a string of violent crimes in the province that have shaken local communities. While the NPA did not release the victim’s name to protect her family’s privacy, they confirmed that the investigation and prosecution were handled with diligence.
Both Shongwe and Jele were also declared unfit to possess firearms as part of the sentencing conditions.
