A former Durban University of Technology (DUT) student, Melusi Khoza, has had his 15-year prison sentence reduced by the Pietermaritzburg High Court for the fatal stabbing of fellow student Thabiso Sifundo Mhlongo over a greeting dispute.
The incident occurred on January 7, 2021, at Sterling House, an off-campus DUT residence in Durban, where Khoza and the victim resided. Khoza visited the unit where Mhlongo was staying with his roommate, Siyabonga Dube, and Luyanda Dlamini, who had also visited them.
Fatal Greeting Dispute
Khoza greeted Dube and Dlamini, then pointedly remarked that they were sitting with someone who hadn’t greeted him. Mhlongo responded that Khoza should have initiated the greeting since he had entered the room. Angered by Mhlongo’s comment, Khoza approached him, brushed the top of his head back and forth, and referred to him as “a boy”.
As Mhlongo backed away, Khoza quickly grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him between the shoulder and the neck. Khoza fled the scene, putting the knife in his pocket. He was arrested two months later. The Durban Regional Court dismissed his claim of self-defence during the trial.
Reduced Sentence
Judges Robin Mossop and Judge Sanele Hlatshwayo noted that the way the charge was framed precluded a life imprisonment sentence, as the murder was not pre-planned and Khoza did not enter the unit armed. This left 15 years imprisonment as the minimum sentence. The judges reviewed the pre-sentence report and mitigation evidence presented at the Regional Court.
The report detailed that Khoza had suffered severe physical abuse from his mother during his childhood, which eventually led to social services intervention. He testified that he lived in a shelter for eight years until he completed matric. His attempts to reconcile with his mother were unsuccessful.
Khoza, who was enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in child and youth care, said he was inspired by his life experiences and wanted to make a positive change in his community. Judge Mossop observed: “He kept his mind fixed on his studies amidst the turmoil of his personal life and found a way to overcome his own difficulties and matriculate from school with a pass that permitted him to enrol at an institution of higher learning.
Here are some key points about the case:
- Khoza was initially sentenced to 15 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Mhlongo.
- The Pietermaritzburg High Court reduced his sentence due to his difficult upbringing and time spent in custody awaiting trial.
- Khoza had suffered physical abuse as a child and lived in a shelter for eight years.
- He was inspired by his life experiences to make a positive change in his community.
For more information on the case, visit the IOL News website. You can also read about similar cases on the South Africa website.
