NELSPRUIT - A 31- year-old Lunga Matiwane was found guilty for murdering Mr Spintjies Jantises (34) and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Kriel Regional Court on Monday, 22 August 2022.

It was around 03:40, on 06 August 2017 at Thubelihle location near Kriel, when the accused had an argument with Jantises's brother after slightly bumping him with his vehicle.

Mr Jantises then tried to intervene between the two, but then the accused could not contain his temper. He took out a knife and stabbed Mr Jantises on his upper body (chest and left arm), the victim as a result lost power and fell on the ground.

Police and Emergency personnel were summoned to the scene. Upon arrival they found Jantises in a pool of blood. He was unfortunately certified dead on the scene. A case of murder was registered by Kriel Police.

Later on, the suspect came to the Police Station to open a case, claiming to have been assaulted by Mr Jantises and his brother, it is then that Matiwane was arrested for murder. He was trialled and convicted hence his sentence.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has welcomed the sentence and appealed to community members not to resort to any form of violence should there be any misunderstanding.

Source: South African Police Service