Justice for Bobo: Trio sentenced to life in prison for horrific teenager’s murder

Three Tongaat residents have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the gruesome murder of a 16-year-old boy in 2020.

Andile Nhleko, 27, Mcedisi Mzobe, 27, and Lindani Ndlovu, 26, were also sentenced to additional years for kidnapping in the Verulam District Court.

Another defendant, Malusi Mthembu (27), was sentenced to 12 years in prison for murder and three years in prison for kidnapping.

Another defendant, Mlungisi Thabethe, was killed before the trial started. A year later, Gopalall was shot dead while driving on Hurbans Road.

The court heard that Andile “Bobo” Mbuthu was beaten to death in Hambanathi district in April 2020 after being accused of stealing alcohol from a local tavern.

After interrogation, the defendant confessed and the alcohol was confiscated. However, instead of releasing Mbuthu, the group detained him and attacked him for hours with sjambok, golf clubs and sticks.

Bobo’s sister tried to intervene after receiving news of the attack. Ndlovu told him to bring clean clothes for his brother so he could be taken to the hospital.

When he returned he was said to have escaped. However, it was revealed that he died at the hands of the defendant and his body was subsequently loaded onto the back of a bakkie.

The defendant then attended Thabethe’s birthday braai celebration. After the celebration, Nhleko, Mzobe and Ndlovu cremated the body.

The next morning, Nhleko dismembered the body and placed it in a bag, and the remains were thrown into a nearby river.

His death sparked public outcry across the country after shocking video of him being beaten went viral with the hashtag #JusticeForBobo.

The sentencing included victim impact statements that highlighted the deep trauma experienced by Bobo’s family, which was exacerbated by the circulation of the attack video.

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