Sam Mbatha’s Killers Receive Life Sentences But 2 Appeal

The family of Sam Mbatha has welcomed the sentencing of the three men convicted of brutally murdering and setting alight the young LGBTQI+ marketing and communications professional three years ago. There is, however, confusion about two of the killers’ appeals.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the North West Division of the High Court, sitting in the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court, sentenced Arthur Khoza (22), Mahlatsi Nkuna (24), and Thato Mosetla (25) to life imprisonment for Mbatha’s murder on Friday. The trio were found guilty of the crime in March.

The three men were also sentenced to 20 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, 15 years for kidnapping, 10 years for malicious damage to property, and 7 years for defeating the ends of justice.

“After months of advocating for justice and enduring multiple postponed court sessions, today we celebrate a victorious moment as justice is finally delivered,” the Mbatha family said in a statement.

They expressed gratitude for the verdict and thanked everyone who stood by them during this difficult time. “The journey was tough, and your continued support means a lot to us,” they added.

In aggravation of the sentence, Advocate Nangamso Goloda told the court, “The sentences that should be imposed must be fit for their brutal savagery.” He further argued that the accused not only killed Mbatha but also burned him to ashes, taking away his dignity while he was alive.

Uncertainty Over Killers’ Appeal 

Some confusion emerged when Access Chapter 2, which has been monitoring the case, claimed that Khoza and Nkuna’s sentences had been overturned by the same court shortly after the sentencing. The LGBTIQ+ group stated that the two men were subsequently granted bail and were sentenced to 6 months of community service.

NPA Communications Officer Sivenathi Gunya vehemently denied this claim, telling MambaOnline that Khoza and Nkuna remained in custody along with Mosetla.

He asserted that they had simply filed an application to appeal on Friday and that all three life sentences stand pending the ultimate outcome. “They are serving life imprisonment as from yesterday,” insisted Gunya.

Access Chapter 2’s Paralegal Mable Aphane, however, stood by the organisation’s understanding of what took place in court and vowed to ensure that the case is fully resolved.

Mbatha’s body was discovered in the boot of his torched Hyundai i20 at a soccer field in Klipgat, North West Province, in June 2021. Because the popular 24-year-old had been burned beyond recognition, it took police more than six months to confirm the identity of the body through DNA testing, leaving his family in agonising suspense.

Investigations led the police to a house in Klipgat. In one of the bedrooms, investigators found bloodstains on the floor, under and on top of a bed, as well as on the carpet. An axe suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime was found on the roof of the house.