Killer of lover’s son gets life
Boy murdered after mom ends couple’s affair
A furious mother tried to follow her child’s killer as police escorted him out of the courtroom yesterday.
This was hours before Jimmy Makhubela, 32, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Limpopo High Court for killing Nancy Lesenya’s nineyear-old son Katlego and dumping his body under a bridge in 2016.
Makhubela was found guilty on Monday amid overwhelming evidence by the state during the trial, showing that he murdered Katlego to spite Lesenya for ending their affair.
Court proceedings were delayed yesterday after Makhubela complained of stomach cramps.
Police officers had to restrain Lesenya when she tried to follow him while hurling insults. “This man killed my son. Why is he being protected like this?” yelled Lesenya.
Lesenya’s outburst happened minutes after Judge Francis Kganyago ordered Makhubela be taken for a medical examination.
After the second adjournment, the investigating officer informed the court that a medical doctor confirmed there was nothing wrong with Makhubela .
“The doctor said there is no problem with him. He might be shocked because of the sentencing,” the officer said.
Kganyago proceeded with the sentencing, saying Makhubela had committed a barbaric crime which was “influenced by revenge and hurting the deceased’s mother”.
He said Makhubela failed to show remorse or even take responsibility for his actions during the trial.
“I hereby sentence you to life imprisonment for the murder of Katlego Lesenya,” he said.
Makhubela, a traditional healer, testified during mitigation of sentence earlier that his clients, three children and mother would all suffer due to his incarceration. He pleaded for a lighter sentence.
However, Kganyago said there was no evidence showing that Makhubela was the primary caregiver of his three minor children who all stayed with their mothers.
After sentencing, his girlfriend of eight years and mother of one of his children, Sifiso Mathebula, told Sowetan she would struggle without him.
Mathebula said they had been planning their traditional wedding while Makhubela was attending his trial from inside prison. “It is going to be difficult for my child to grow up without her father.”
Makhubela’s application for leave to appeal his sentence and conviction was dismissed.