Former pupils get life for ‘cold-blooded’ killing of acting principal

“It is clear the court is dealing with two cold-blooded killers.” These were the words of Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Nontuthuzelo Mlaba during the sentencing of two men convicted of murdering acting school principal Busani Khomo in 2024. Sibonelo “Bhongo” Sibiya (27) and Bheki Gabriel “Mabhiza” Dube (28), both former pupils of Sikhethuxolo High School in Mpumalanga, Hammarsdale, appeared in the high court on Tuesday, where each was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and an additional three years for malicious damage to property. According to the indictment, Sibiya and Dube were hired to kill Khomo by a person with a vested interest in securing the acting principal position at the same school.

“To achieve this objective, the accused were paid a sum of money to carry out this plan.” It was later established that the pair was paid R50 000 for the hit. On December 5, 2024, Khomo was driving his Toyota Fortuner when the accused opened fire on the vehicle, killing him. Khomo lost control of the car and collided with a stationary vehicle.

During sentencing, Judge Mlaba said victim impact statements showed the devastating toll the murder had taken on the family. Khomo’s son suffered psychological trauma, and his mother died six months later from what his brother described as heartbreak. Nothing justified your conduct in committing this crime.