The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court today sentenced 39-year-old Abednego Desmond Mbuyane to 12 years’ direct imprisonment for housebreaking and the murder of his wife’s boyfriend, Thamsanqa Sbusiso Nkosi.
The conviction stems from an incident on 15 April 2023 at Kwanyoni Lodge in Nelspruit. According to court records, Mbuyane became suspicious of his wife’s whereabouts after she failed to answer multiple phone calls. Using a GPS tracking device, he traced the vehicle she was driving to the lodge.
Upon arrival, Mbuyane identified the room near where the car was parked. After knocking and receiving no response, he kicked the door open and found his wife with the deceased. A confrontation ensued, prompting both his wife and Nkosi to flee. Mbuyane pursued Nkosi and fatally shot him in the head and shoulder before fleeing the scene. He later surrendered to the police.
The case was transferred to the Hawks’ Nelspruit-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit for further investigation. During court proceedings, Mbuyane pleaded guilty to murder and housebreaking, but the State rejected the plea, arguing that the murder was premeditated. The matter proceeded to trial.
State Advocate Senzo Zindela presented compelling testimony from Mbuyane’s wife and an eyewitness, both of whom confirmed the events leading to the murder. In mitigation, Mbuyane claimed he had no intention to kill and had only sought to confront his wife.
After evaluating all evidence, the court convicted Mbuyane of housebreaking and murder. In sentencing, the court considered his time in custody since arrest. He received 5 years for housebreaking and 12 years for murder, with the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 12-year prison term. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.