The Limpopo Division of the High Court in Polokwane has sentenced Lunghani Mhlongo (30) of Dan Village in Tzaneen to a cumulative 72 years’ imprisonment for murdering his partner, Hope Nkuna, and their eight-month-old baby. Mhlongo received 60 years for two counts of murder, five years for defeating the ends of justice, and seven years for arson, with sentences running concurrently for an effective 25 years’ direct imprisonment.
Mhlongo entered into a plea and sentence agreement in terms of Section 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977. In his plea, he admitted that on September 15, 2024, following an argument, he assaulted Nkuna while she was carrying their baby on her back. During the assault, she collided with a table, which struck the minor child on the head. He continued to assault her by throttling her until she became unresponsive, and upon checking the baby, found the child also unresponsive. After the incident, Mhlongo went to another family's house within the same yard.
Twelve days later, he asked his brother to assist him in moving a bed from his RDP house. The brother detected a strong odour emanating from the house and alerted the family. Fearing that the bodies would be discovered, Mhlongo set the house alight in an attempt to conceal the evidence. He fled the scene thereafter. Community members alerted the police, and he was subsequently apprehended.
In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Patrick Magoda submitted that the seriousness of the offences was compounded by Mhlongo's conduct after the murders. The deliberate setting alight of the dwelling constituted a serious offence of arson, posing a danger to property and the surrounding community. The attempt to conceal the crimes further amounted to defeating the administration of justice and undermining the proper functioning of the criminal justice system.
The State further submitted that society has a compelling interest in the protection of vulnerable persons, particularly women and children, and in the firm condemnation of domestic violence and conduct aimed at obstructing justice. Murder remains one of the most serious offences in South African law, as it involves the unlawful and intentional taking of human life and strikes at the core of the constitutional right to life and security.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentence. Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, Adv. Ivy Thenga, emphasised that the value of human life cannot be overstated. She affirmed that the NPA will continue to pursue such matters vigorously to ensure accountability and serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders. She also commended Advocate Magoda and all stakeholders involved in securing the conviction.
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