The death of Bongiwe Radebe from Intabazwe, Harrismith. Photo: SAPS
The Free State High Court has sentenced two young men from Harrismith to 35 years in prison each for the kidnapping and murder of teenager Bongiwe Radebe. The accused, Sandile Wiseman Khumalo (28) and Mpiyakhe Solomon Miya (32), were sentenced during a court hearing in Harrismith on Wednesday 26 June.
The court found both guilty of kidnapping, murder, burglary and common robbery. The victim’s body was discovered on February 26 last year after she was abducted from her parents’ home in Intabazwe township, Harrismith. She was 12 years old at the time.
Judge AJ Groenewald convicted the pair after a successful prosecution by defense attorney Victor Choane, based on compelling evidence presented in court during the trial.
WO Mmako Mophiring, police spokesperson in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region, said the compelling evidence presented in court followed an in-depth investigation by Captain Aron Mbele of the Bethlehem Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses (FCS) unit.
“Khumalo and Miya were each sentenced to five years for burglary, five years for kidnapping and 12 months for common robbery. For the murder of Bongiwe, they were sentenced to life imprisonment. Miya was sentenced to 18 months for escaping from custody,” Mophiring said.
He said investigations revealed that Miya and Khumalo abducted the victim on February 25, 2023, at around 11:30 pm, when both parents were visiting a friend. Mophiring said the victim was alone when the killers entered the hut to steal. He said the accused took groceries and clothes and then kidnapped the victim, whom they killed.
“They dumped Bongiwe’s body in the bushes of Lotusville, near the N3. Other clothing was found abandoned near a certain hut in the area. The value of the stolen property was approximately R4,000,” Mophiring said.
Teboho Setena
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