Prosecutors and defense attorneys are negotiating a plea deal in the gruesome murder of Thulasizwe “The Gentleman” Hlophe.
The victim was not only stabbed and killed but subjected to horrific post-mortem mutilation—his face, neck, and body deliberately disfigured before being thrown over a cliff near Mbeka Primary School.
Sphamandla Nethisa, who is charged with the kidnapping and killing of Hlophe, intends to enter the plea deal so he can reveal his accomplices to the offence, and possibly get a reduced sentence. He allegedly kidnapped Hlophe at Inanda outside Under The Moon Lounge, where he had gone with his musician friends Babes Wodumo and Madanon.
“Hlophe’s body was mutilated so that it would be unidentifiable or unrecognisable and was then thrown over a cliff. His car, a Kia Picanto, cellphone, and Nike takkies were allegedly stolen,” read the charge sheet.
Nethisa, who was released on R1 500 bail, evaded trial and was found by the police working in a car wash near the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court last year in November. When he was arrested for evading trial, he applied for bail again at the same court; however, regional prosecutor Kaystree Ramsamujh opposed it. As a result, Nethisa is in custody.
On Thursday, Nethisa made a brief appearance at Ntuzuma court, where his Legal Aid Lawyer Sakhile Zondi asked for the matter to be postponed.
“I need to take further instructions from my client regarding the plea,” Zondi explained.
Ramsamujh did not oppose Zondi’s application for the matter to be postponed. Magistrate Sibongiseni Cele postponed the matter to October 31 for Nethisa’s plea.
Nethisa is also charged with robbery with aggravated circumstances, defeating the course of justice, and contravening a 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.
