03/07/2026
Life imprisonment for Halimmah Thando Mnyobisi and co-accused for murdering teacher, Fezile Mnyobisi
By Michael Tamelinth (Free State World)
Justice has finally been served for the late Botshabelo teacher, Fezile Mnyobisi (35) who was killed by his wife and the men she recruited.
The Free State High Court, sitting in Botshabelo, has handed down life sentences to four individuals, including the masterminds, for the brutal and premeditated murder of Botshabelo school teacher, Fezile Mnyobisi.
● Accused 1, Vusimuzi Daniel Nqele (43) was sentenced to life imprisonment.
● Accused 2, Moeketsi Innocent Manko (35) was sentenced to life imprisonment.
● Accused 3, Abdool Rahman Thamando (35-year-old brother-in-law to the deceased) was slapped with 20 years imprisonment.
● Accused 4, Halimmah Thamando Mnyobisi (38-year-old wife of the deceased) was also sentenced to life imprisonment.
All four accused were convicted of murder, read with the provisions of Section 51(1) Part I Schedule 2 of Act 105 of 1997 (Premeditated Murder).
On Friday, 15 September 2023, Botshabelo police received an alert from a local hospital regarding a suspected murder. A patrol vehicle was immediately dispatched. Upon arrival, it was reported that 35-year-old Fezile Mnyobisi, a dedicated teacher at Refihlile Primary School in C-Section, had been brought to the hospital by his wife in a private vehicle. He was declared dead on arrival.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had sustained more than 30 stab wounds to his torso. Botshabelo police initially registered a case of murder and robbery at the Botshabelo Police Station.
Following investigations by the Provincial Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, alongside the Investigative Psychology Section, warrants of arrest were issued.
Hitmen Vusumuzi Daniel Nqele and Moeketsi Innocent Manko were arrested on Friday, 8 November 2024, for murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Further investigation led to the arrest of the