Court finds trio guilty of attempted murder and kidnapping after victim testifies in shocking church-related attack.
A Zimbabwean pastor, Solomon Mahlangu, and his son, Enock Mahlangu, have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a South African court for brutally chopping off a young man’s hands over allegations of theft.
The Emalahleni Regional Court in Mpumalanga delivered the verdict after finding the two guilty of attempted murder and kidnapping, while the pastor’s daughter-in-law, Poppy Lethnes Mhlanga, was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to three years’ direct imprisonment.
According to South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on 27 March 2024, when the victim was passing through the church premises on Kroomdraai Road in Vosman. He was confronted by Enock and the other accused, who accused him of stealing batteries and church property.
The court heard that Solomon and Enock savagely assaulted the young man, dragged him into a vehicle, and used a panga to chop off both of his hands before abandoning him while he bled and pleaded for help.
A passerby discovered the victim and alerted authorities, leading to emergency medical treatment and a police investigation that resulted in the trio’s arrest. They were later released on bail under strict conditions.
During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty and opted to remain silent, but the State presented compelling evidence, including the victim’s detailed testimony and a photo album showing the scene where the severed hands were found.
The court rejected the accused persons’ defence as “bare denials” and described the victim’s evidence as consistent, truthful and reliable.
Prosecutor Francois Brandt urged the court to impose harsh sentences to serve as a strong deterrent against violent crimes.
In its judgment, the court declared all three convicts unfit to possess firearms.
The NPA welcomed the ruling, stating that the outcome demonstrates the justice system’s commitment to holding perpetrators of brutal crimes fully accountable.
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