Court ‘treats murderer with kids gloves’

Judge described crime as heinous

A Soweto man whose nephew was sentenced to 28 years imprisonment after he shot his wife before bludgeoning her with a spade, said the judge was lenient on the murderer for his heinous crimes

Phumulani Hlophe, 26, was found guilty of murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as robbery with aggravated circumstances. He was handed down the sentence in South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Friday.

Hlophe shot and killed his aunt, Vangile Thomo in Zola, before bludgeoning her with a spade in her home in November 2016.

Ronny Kwinda, Hlophe’s uncle, told Sowetan shortly after he was sentenced that his nephew deserved to spend the rest of his life behind bars for the crimes.

“He attempted to shoot me and my son. I was lucky because I grabbed my son and ran out of the house when Phumulani produced a firearm and shot my wife,” Kwinda said.

An upset Kwinda explained that he was able to evade death after Hlophe’s firearm jammed as he attempted to pull the trigger at him.

He said Hlophe shot his wife as a result of an ongoing family feud, noting Hlophe believed that Thomo was bewitching him and prevented him from accessing his paternal home.

“He would have killed me and my son. My son has never recovered from the incident, and is still depressed because he saw his mother being gunned in front of him.”

Judge Thomas Mathunzi described Hlophe’s crimes as heinous, saying “not even an animal deserved to be killed in that manner”.

“What makes it worse is that this attack was aimed at a female. This happened on the backdrop of many campaigns against women and children violence,” Mathunzi said.

Mathunzi said it was clear the crime was premeditated as Hlophe waited for Thomo to arrive home before he unleashed his attack.

Lawrence Thomo, Hlophe’s father, told Sowetan his feelings were of no consequence. He believed the court acted in the best way it could in handing down the sentence.

“On the one hand I am still hurt by my sister’s death at the hands of my son. On the other I have to accept the sentence,” Thomo said.