- A grandson was handed two concurrent life sentences for the brutal murder of his elderly grandparents, with the court rejecting claims of demonic possession.
- In a separate case, a Kinross woman was raped despite holding a protection order; her attacker received a life sentence plus additional penalties.
- Authorities hailed both verdicts as a strong warning that violence within families and homes will be met with the full force of the law.
The Mpumalanga High Court sentenced 33-year-old Sibonelo Sibusiso Fakude to two concurrent life terms for the cold-blooded murders of his grandparents in the early hours of 31 December 2023.
The case, which shocked the Nhlazatshe community in Elukwatini, concluded on Friday, 23 January 2026, after the court heard chilling details of Fakude’s betrayal of those who had cared for him. Evidence revealed that Fakude entered the bedroom of Linah Jabhile Malaza, 77, and Gerhardus Johannes Cloete, 72, armed with a knife, and attacked them as they slept.
Monica Nyuswa, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority, told the court that Fakude stabbed the couple multiple times in the neck and body, leaving them dead in their bed. “Afterwards, Fakude walked to a nearby tuck shop and confessed to neighbours, leading to his immediate arrest,” she said.
Fakude pleaded guilty to both murders, admitting his actions were intentional and unlawful. In a bid for leniency, he claimed to have been possessed by demons at the time. State Advocate Senzo Zindela dismissed this, presenting forensic evidence, post-mortem reports, and crime scene photographs that revealed the brutality of the attack.
Presiding Judge LD Vukeya, visibly shaken by the facts, lamented the apparent devaluation of human life. “In South Africa, it often appears as though life has become meaningless,” she said, describing the attack as senseless and perpetrated against defenceless victims.
Finding no grounds for a lesser sentence, the court imposed the prescribed minimum of two life terms to run concurrently. Fakude was declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his application for leave to appeal was denied. The NPA welcomed the judgment, reaffirming the courts’ role in safeguarding elderly citizens who are often at greatest risk in their own homes.
A protection order violated, justice served
Just days earlier, in a separate Mpumalanga courtroom, another survivor saw justice after enduring a horrific attack that began despite the protection of a court order. The Evander Regional Court sentenced 40-year-old Xolani Josiah Mayisela to life imprisonment for rape, concluding a case that highlighted the persistent dangers facing women, even when legal safeguards are in place.
The victim, a 55-year-old domestic worker, was ironing clothes at her employers’ Kinross home on 16 December 2021 when Mayisela, a former acquaintance, broke in. Despite locked gates and an active electric fence, he gained entry to her bedroom. She was holding an active protection order against him at the time.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Jabu Ndubane, Mayisela mocked the court order, telling the victim that “no piece of paper would stop him.” He then assaulted her with a hot iron, knocking her unconscious, and subjected her to repeated rape and death threats throughout the night.
The next morning, the injured survivor sought help from her employers, prompting a swift investigation by the family violence, child protection, and sexual offences unit. The case led to Mayisela’s conviction in November 2025.
During sentencing, the court imposed life imprisonment for rape, plus two years for violating the protection order and five years for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. All sentences will run concurrently. Mayisela was declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his name was permanently entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
Mpumalanga Acting Police Commissioner Major-General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi welcomed the ruling, saying it sends a clear message to offenders. “This outcome is proof that anyone who violates a protection order will face consequences,” he said. “Protection orders are powerful, and we urge everyone to report violations immediately.”
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