14 Years for Mawela

A young man convicted on seven counts of culpable homicide and reckless driving after an accident in Tshidzini village some four years ago will have to spend 14 years in jail.

Sibasa Regional Court Magistrate Mashudu Muzhelele sentenced Mphedziseni Mawela (29) in a packed court on Tuesday.

The sentence relates to an incident on 10 March 2012, when Mawela’s car veered off the road and ploughed into a group of people on their way home from a soccer game at Tshidzini. Seven people died and four, including Mawela, were injured in the incident. The deceased were Munei Munyai (12), Tsumbedzo Ravhanga (13), Vhusiwana Rangani (25), Thifhelimbilu Magaligwa (31), a promising soccer star, Kenneth Nemaungani (24), Wilson Ravhanga (71) and Daphne Mbedzi (26).

Regional Magistrate Muzhelele sentenced Mawela to two years' imprisonment for each of the seven deaths, leaving him to spend 14 years in jail. Before passing sentence, she said that the accused should understand that the sentence was part of rehabilitating and correcting him, "so that he can live a normal of life. No one has the right to end someone’s life, and the accident has affected the relatives of the deceased negatively,” said Muzhelele.

The court heard that the vehicle in which Mawela was travelling was not roadworthy and he was also driving at high speed in the 60-kilometer-per-hour zone.

"We have accepted the sentence. We are, however, worried that the sentence is too lenient as our relatives will never come back again. I am also worried that my sister, Thifhelimbilu Magwaligwa who passed away in the accident, has left three children. Who will take care of them?" asked Ms Flora Netshinyele, elder sister of the deceased. Netshinyele added that no one was working at the family and no one was able to take care of the three children.

Date:08 February 2016

By: Silas Nduvheni

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