Former Durban University of Technology (DUT) student Melusi Khoza has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars for the murder of fellow student Sifundo Mhlongo.
Khoza, 23, was found guilty by the Durban regional court on Thursday.
Khoza, reportedly stabbed Mhlongo, who was also a student at DUT to death in January 2021.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara on the day of the incident, Khoza and Mhlongo had a heated argument over which one of them should have greeted the other first.
“Khoza then pulled out a knife and stabbed Mhlongo, and he later fled the scene leaving Mhlongo bleeding until he died. Khoza remained on the run for a few months but was eventually arrested after police received information regarding his whereabouts,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
Eyewitness testimonies of two people who were at the scene were presented in court.
In a victim impact statement, Mhlongo’s mother detailed that she had high hopes for her son to get a tertiary qualification and improve the quality of their lives.
She added that she was reliant on him, and his death had a devastating effect on her and her family.
Since Khoza was charged with a murder that was not planned or premeditated, the court found no compelling or substantial circumstances which justified a deviation from the minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
“He was therefore sentenced accordingly. The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter and acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the prosecution and investigating team,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
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