Man in Johannesburg sentenced to two life terms for attack on parents
The High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, sentenced 33-year-old Ndimphiwe Manku to two life terms in prison for the murder of his father, Mavetu Manku, and the attempted murder of his mother. According to TimesLIVE, the prosecution said the attack was premeditated and financially motivated.
Manku was separately sentenced to five years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and three years for unlawful possession of ammunition.
Attack at the family home
The incident took place on January 31, 2023, at the family home in Leondale, Germiston. According to South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mahaboke Mohlatlole, Manku's parents returned home shortly after lunch, when their son approached their vehicle with a gun and opened fire.
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Mavetu Manku sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was declared dead at the scene. His wife was also injured: a bullet entered her cheek and exited through her chin. She survived after receiving emergency medical treatment.
The prosecution's position
State prosecutor William Makwela stressed the gravity of the crimes during the sentencing hearing and noted that the accused had attacked his own parents. He argued for a life sentence also on the attempted murder count, taking into account Manku's family relationship with the victim.
Mohlatlole said that evidence in the case indicated Manku intended to benefit from his parents' wealth, their pension payments and other property. During the trial, the convicted man's mother and sister told the court about the devastating consequences of the attack for the family, expressed fear of him and called for a severe sentence. The court agreed with the prosecution's arguments that Manku's family relationship with his mother, the victim, warranted life imprisonment for attempted murder.
