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Johannesburg - Two men have been sentenced to 40 years in prison for murder and robbery by the Madadeni High Court in KwaZulu-Natal, provincial police said on Sunday.
Mandla Ngema, 24, and Bongani Buthelezi, 19, were each sentenced to 25 years for murder and 15 years for robbery for killing 61-year-old Thembani Masondo in Mondlo near Vryheid, spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said.
"On November 24 2014 at about 03:00 in the morning, Mondlo police attended to a complaint of murder at Bhekumthetho area, Mondlo near Vryheid," Zwane said.
"On their arrival, they noticed an elderly woman who was identified as Thembani Masondo already dead in her house. She was strangled to death and her cellphone and bank cards were taken before the accused fled the scene."
When Ngema and Buthelezi were arrested, Masondo's cellphone and bank cards were recovered.
"The accused attacked the victim because they had information that during the day there were people who came to pay lobola," Zwane said.
"We welcome a heavy sentence handed down to the accused and this will serve as a strong warning to those who target our vulnerable women."
The men were sentenced and convicted on Thursday.
