Two weeks after Bongani Mkhwanazi was fired from his job, he and his friend, Bokang Petrose Tasti, returned to the farm to take revenge on the owner, Neil Mckay.
They strangled the disabled man and stole his possessions.
The Ladysmith Regional Court sentenced Mkhwanazi, 27, and Tasti, 26, to life and 15 years imprisonment each for the murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances they committed in April 2021 on a farm in the Winterton area of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Mr Mckay, 46, had been attacked 20 years prior to the incident. He was shot and left a paraplegic.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said despite his disability, Mr Mckay continued to run his family farm with several permanent employees.
“Mkhwanazi was a former employee of Mckay’s, who was dismissed two weeks before the incident. On the day of the incident, Mkhwanazi returned to the farm together with Tasti. They robbed Mckay of cash, binoculars, a blue tooth speaker and alcohol; bound his hands and strangled him. They were arrested after police traced them at their homes,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
In court, Prosecutor Satsha Budhram led cellphone and DNA evidence placing both men at the scene.
Mkhwanazi further did a pointing out which was proven to be admissible and accepted by the court, while Tasti was found in possession of Mr Mckay’s stolen belongings.
Ms Budhram also handed in Victim Impact Statements compiled by Mr Mckay’s family members, and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Khulekani Professor Mthembu.
“In their statements they mentioned that the family and employees are struggling to come to terms with Mckay’s death. They have experienced financial burdens and have had to sell the farm,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
“The men were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years imprisonment for robbery. They were declared unfit to possess a firearm.”
