Three people, Mrs Lowani Noria Ramabulana (54) of Lutendo, Remember Ramabulana (33) from Dopeni village and Mbulaheni Bethuel Magadagela (49) of Mandala village were sentenced to long terms imprisonment for murder in the Venda High Court on Tuesday.

The case follows an incident that took place at Dopeni village during the night of April 11 this year where a 78-year-old man, Mr Makhado Wilson Ramabulana, was killed. The court heard that, during the night of the incident, the trio had proceeded to the deceased’s home. At that stage the deceased was sleeping inside the hut. On arrival, they forced him to open the door for them and started accusing him of witchcraft.

The old man was accused of being the cause of the death of his own son, Norman Ramabulana, who died in a car accident some time ago. The court further heard that the killers assaulted the deceased with various objects, including stones and wooden sticks, until he collapsed and died. They, together with the other two suspects, Matodzi Irene Ramabulana (33) and Phumudzo Ramabulana (29) were arrested a few days after the incident.

Phumudzo and Matodzi were acquitted when the other three were found guilty of murder three weeks ago. The deceased was Noria’s ex-husband and the court heard that she was the mastermind behind the killing of the old man. She was sentenced to 16 years in jail.

Her son, Lutendo, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars while the court ordered Magadagela to stay in jail for the next 24 years.

Adv Johannes Makhera was the prosecutor in the case and Judge Hetisani was the presiding officer. Adv MJ Mushasha represented Lutendo and Noria while Magadagela was represented by Mrs Theodora Mathivha of the Thohoyandou Justice Centre.