Durban — Two years ago Thulasizwe Khayelihle “The Gentleman” Hlophe was kidnapped, murdered, had his face mutilated, and burnt before his body was thrown off a cliff.
The man accused of his murder is now a wanted man by police this is after in July the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court authorised a warrant for his arrest to be executed when the 22-year-old absconded from court.
Two months later Sphamandla Nethisa still has not been located for his arrest to be executed, he is currently out on R1 500 bail which was cancelled and forfeited to the State on the day his arrest warrant was authorised for execution.
Nethisa is charged with murder, kidnapping, and robbery with aggravated circumstances as well as defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
A reliable source on Thursday confirmed that Nethisa was still at large.
If police track him down and arrest him he will remain behind bars until the finalisation of the trial where if found guilty of robbery with aggravated circumstances he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years if he is a first offender, however, if he has been previously convicted of a similar charge, the court could not deviate from a minimum sentence of 20 years.
If convicted of murder he could face life imprisonment.
Hlophe was allegedly kidnapped from outside Under The Moon Lounge in Inanda where he had gone with his friends, musicians Madanon and Babes Wodumo.
It’s alleged that Hlophe was stabbed and killed, his body taken to the Nguzi area near Mbeka Primary School where his face, neck, and body were mutilated to make his body unidentifiable or unrecognisable, and was then thrown over a cliff.
Besides his car, his cell phone and Nike takkies were also allegedly stolen.
Nethisa is also charged with contravening regulation promulgated in terms of Section 90 (1) read with Section 68 (1) of The National Health Act 61 of 2003 in relation to the mutilation of Hlophe’s face.
WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995.
Daily News