Eastern Cape man gets five life sentences for killing three women, including his mother

An Eastern Cape man who stabbed his mother, sister and an elderly woman to death has been handed life behind bars. The Mthatha high court sitting in Port St Johns sentenced Mzomhle Matakhiya, 24, of Flagstaff, to five life sentences and 10 years on Thursday. “Mzomhle stabbed his mother, aged 40, his 20-year-old younger sister and a 97-year-old woman, who was the grandmother of his mother’s boyfriend.

All three were stabbed to death,” said police spokesperson Capt Welile Matyolo. “His mother’s boyfriend and a neighbour were also stabbed but survived.” Matakhiya was arrested on the same day as the murders and the murder weapon was recovered. Flagstaff detectives successfully opposed bail.

His case was later transferred to the Mthatha high court, where he was sentenced on Thursday. OR Tambo district commissioner Maj-Gen Norman Modishana praised detectives who investigated the case for “bringing a water-tight case to court for justice to be served for all victims”. Modishana reiterated that perpetrators of gender-based violence have no place in society. Click here to join the Daily Dispatch’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered straight to your phone