DURBAN - A KWAZULU-NATAL man who killed his girlfriend’s toddler and dumped his body in the neighbouring Phoenix area was sentenced to life in jail by the Durban High Court on Tuesday.
Thembelani “Eric” Mtengwane, from Inanda, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and 10 years for the kidnapping of 16-month-old Sbonga Mlanji in April 2019.
Naledi Mlanji, Sbonga’s mother, and the baby’s father, Mxolisi Nodangala, said they were happy with the life sentence.
“This man is wicked. He showed no remorse,” Nodangala said.
Mlanji said she hoped Mtengwane would remain behind bars for the rest of his life.
The investigating officer who had opposed Mtengwane’s bail, Captain Kippie Pillay, said that although this was a difficult case to investigate, he was happy with the sentence.
“There was lots of work. The family put pressure on me. But now I can see smiles on their faces.”
Handing down sentence, Judge Ntuthu Mlaba said nothing justified Mtengwane’s conduct.
“You deprived Sbonga of his right to life, by kidnapping and killing him. You kidnapped, severely assaulted and killed a 16-month-old baby,” she said.
A strong message should be sent to people who committed similar crimes.
“Our society lives in fear of people of your calibre. By removing you from society, the interest of the public will be served,” the judge said.
Mtengwane had shown no remorse for the crimes committed, she said.
“Your conduct has not only affected the baby’s parents, but your mother as well,” she said, adding that Mtengwane had the right to appeal against the life sentence.
In mitigation of sentence, attorney Dalinkosi Hintsa said Mtenwgane had grown up without a biological mother and was raised by his grandmother.
“He is a first-time offender. Now, at age 31, if he is sentenced to life – it will mean he will only be considered for parole at age of 60,” Hintsa said.
Prosecutor advocate André Meiring said the injuries suffered by Sbonga demonstrated a cold-blooded murder.
Meiring read Mlanji’s victim impact statement affidavit prior to the sentencing.
“There is a void in my life. It is something I do not wish for any parent to go through. Since that day, I still see his picture when I went to identify his body,” Mlanji said.
She said the incident had caused her not to trust people.
“I suffer from headaches. Even when I take tablets, they do not help me. When I think of my baby, Sbonga – as I used to call him – the tears just roll down and I cry uncontrollably. I do not know how this pain can be removed,” she said.
She said it felt like a part of her body had been removed.
“Whenever I sit down – sit alone – the memories spark in my mind and I end up in tears. To this day, I would like to know why my baby was killed and his body dumped like trash. This hurts me and leaves me with no hope in life. I feel like someone could just tell me that this is all a dream,” she said.
She said, at the time of the incident, she was only doing casual work.
“I could not bear it when people would sympathise with me. It felt like the wound in my heart was being reopened. Even now attending the case, all the flashbacks came – and it is still hurting me.”
Daily News