Johannesburg - Five Free State gang members were on Thursday handed life sentences for murdering a man from a rival gang, the NPA said.
They murdered Tshediso Nyelimane in November 2013, National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesman Phaladi Shuping said.
Mpho Mkhumbeni, 27, Sabata Mofokeng, 25, Lucas Malgas, 19, Thabo Mthuba, 26, and Moeketsi Lemphane, 23, were sentenced in the Free State High Court.
“On the day of the incident about 50 members of Makaota gang saw the deceased and four other members of the Portuguese gang walking in the street of Meloding and chased after them,” said Shuping.
They caught Nyelimane and attacked him with pangas, knives and other sharp objects. He was stabbed 36 times.
The State witnesses could only identify five members of the gang.
The five, some of whom had previous convictions, tried to appeal their convictions and sentences, but this was dismissed.
Sapa