Naked dance as former traffic officer is convicted

There was drama outside the Limpopo High Court's sitting in Thohoyandou last Thursday, when protestors stripped in protest against the further postponement of the sentencing of convicted murderer Masingita Chabani.

The 47-year-old former Malamulele traffic officer, who stood accused of kidnapping and murder, was found guilty last week of murder, robbery, two counts of kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.

On Thursday, Court C at the Thohoyandou high Court was full, with residents from Shikundu and surrounding villages who have a vested interest in the case attending in their numbers.

They came for the sentencing, which was expected that day.

Outside the court, another group that had come to support the victim's family stripped and were left wearing only their underwear and dancing to the beat of drums, singing anti-Chabani songs. They have been a regular feature throughout the trial.

The trial started a few weeks ago and more than 20 witnesses, including Chabani and co-accused Steven Sithole, testified.

Sithole pleaded guilty earlier in the case and turned state witness. In a separate trial, he was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment on the same charges.

In a judgement that took about five hours, Judge Francis Kganyago said the state managed to prove its case beyond any reasonable doubt and that Chabani's evidence left much to be desired. He said that, given the circumstances, he was finding Chabani guilty of the murder of Hlulani Maswanganyi, who was 17 at the time of her death.

He also found her guilty of the kidnapping of Hlulani Maswanganyi and her son, Trinity Mbavala. Chabani was also found guilty of robbery and defeating the ends of justice.

Kganyago further indicated that it was unfortunate that the family could not get the remains of their loved one, given the fact that the place where the body had been disposed of was crocodile-infested.

The conviction was well received, but residents saw red when the case was postponed to 5 October to allow the convicted Chabani to be clinically assessed. Judge Kganyago emphasised that he was bound by law to give a further postponement for Chabani to be assessed before sentencing.

On behalf of the family, Mr Wilson Mahlawule said that even though the verdict was good news for the family, they were disappointed by the further postponement of the case. "We have suffered enough; we have been coming here for as long as we can remember. Now that Chabani has been convicted, we did not expect any further delay in sentencing.”

Chabani's trial and subsequent convictions emanate from an incident that happened in 2015, when she abducted Hlulani Maswanganyi (17) and her one-month-old son, Trinity Mbavala. The young boy was later found alive and reunited with the family.

Hlulani, who sent an SMS to relatives telling them that she feared for her life and that she was travelling to an unknown destination with suspicious people, was never found, even after Sithole had confessed to the murder.

Adv Absah Madzhuta prosecuted, while attorney Ronnie Rambau defended Chabani.

News - Date: 30 September 2017

Maanda Bele & Elmon Tshikhudo

Email: