Five lives lost, five life sentences: KZN court delivers harsh judgment in Bulwer massacre

Five lives lost, five life sentences: KZN court delivers harsh judgment in Bulwer massacre

The Pietermaritzburg High Court delivered one of its most severe sentences this week, handing five life terms to a man whose actions left an entire KwaZulu-Natal community traumatised.

Deon Chonco Mathonsi (29) was sentenced on Monday after being convicted of murdering five men in a violent attack that unfolded in Bulwer in April 2023. The court also imposed an additional 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, effectively ensuring Mathonsi will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

A night of terror in Bulwer

According to police, the killings took place on the evening of 8 April 2023 at a homestead in the Gobhogobho area. Mathonsi, accompanied by two accomplices, stormed the property and opened fire.

Four men were declared dead at the scene. A fifth victim was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries, bringing the death toll to five.

Women who were present during the attack were also robbed of an undisclosed amount of money before the suspects fled. The brutality of the incident sent shockwaves through the rural community, where violent, execution-style attacks are rare but increasingly feared.

Relentless investigation, no bail

KwaZulu-Natal police’s Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit took over the case, meticulously piecing together evidence that led to Mathonsi’s arrest.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said investigators successfully opposed several bail applications following Mathonsi’s arrest, keeping him behind bars until sentencing on 26 January 2026.

The court also declared Mathonsi unfit to possess a firearm, closing the door on any future legal access to weapons.

On social media, many South Africans welcomed the sentence, describing it as “justice served” in a country where families of murder victims often feel forgotten once headlines fade.

A stark contrast: manhunt underway in Limpopo

As the KZN case reached its conclusion, police elsewhere were dealing with a troublingly different scenario.

In Limpopo, a 20-year-old awaiting-trial prisoner, Leonard Letswalo, escaped from lawful custody at Tzaneen SAPS on Friday, 24 January 2026. Letswalo had been arrested a day earlier for unlawful possession of ammunition.

Police say he fled on foot while still handcuffed, evading officers despite immediate search efforts around Tzaneen CBD, Ritavi River and Lephephane Village.

Authorities have urged the public not to approach the escapee and to report any sightings immediately.

Justice, accountability, and public trust

Together, the two cases highlight the fragile balance between justice delivered and justice endangered. While Mathonsi’s sentence has brought a sense of closure to grieving families in Bulwer, the Limpopo escape underscores ongoing challenges within the criminal justice system.

For many South Africans, the message is clear: firm sentences matter, but so does ensuring suspects never slip through the cracks.