Man gets 28 years for killing mother after witchcraft accusation in Mthatha

A deeply disturbing case from the Eastern Cape has ended with a lengthy prison sentence after a man was found guilty of killing his own mother after accusing her of witchcraft.

Samuel Ndesi, 47, was sentenced to 28 years in prison by the Mthatha High Court on Friday, bringing a tragic family dispute to a grim legal conclusion.

The case has shocked many communities, not only because of the brutal nature of the crime, but also because of the cultural beliefs that were raised during the trial and the fact that the sentencing came just days before Mother’s Day.

A family gathering ends in tragedy

The court heard that the incident took place on 25 July 2025 in Dalisile, at the family homestead in Caca Location, Mhlontlo.

According to evidence presented in court, Ndesi arrived while the family was preparing for a traditional ceremony. He was reportedly under the influence of alcohol when tensions escalated.

What began as a confrontation quickly turned deadly.

He accused his 68-year-old mother, Retuie Ndesi, of bewitching him and other family members. The argument escalated, and he then produced a knife and fatally stabbed her.

Police later arrested him, and he remained in custody until sentencing.

Court applies Witchcraft Suppression Act alongside murder charge

During proceedings, the court convicted Ndesi on two counts:

• Eight years imprisonment for imputing witchcraft under the Witchcraft Suppression Act
• 20 years imprisonment for murder

Although the combined sentence amounted to 28 years, the court ordered that the terms run concurrently, resulting in an effective 20 years of direct imprisonment.

He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The case was prosecuted under South Africa’s Witchcraft Suppression Act 3 of 1957, which criminalises accusing someone of witchcraft or engaging witch-finders or harmful traditional practices linked to witchcraft claims.

Under the law, offenders can face fines or lengthy prison terms of up to 20 years.

A case that highlights rural belief systems and violence

Cases involving witchcraft accusations are not uncommon in parts of rural South Africa, where traditional beliefs still influence how misfortune, illness or conflict is sometimes interpreted.

While the justice system does not recognise witchcraft as a defence, such beliefs have repeatedly surfaced in violent incidents across communities in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape over the years.

In many of these cases, family disputes or unexplained hardship become linked to accusations against elderly relatives often with devastating consequences.

This latest case has reignited conversations about how deeply rooted belief systems can intersect with alcohol abuse, poverty and unresolved family conflict.

Police welcome sentence as deterrent

Eastern Cape police leadership has welcomed the ruling.

District Police Commissioner Major General Rudolph Adolph said the sentence sends a strong message about crimes against elderly people.

He emphasised that harsh penalties are necessary to deter similar acts of violence, particularly within families where trust should normally exist.

Police spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela confirmed the details of the case, noting that the accused was arrested shortly after the murder and remained in custody until sentencing.

Separate violent incident in KwaZulu-Natal

In a separate development over the same weekend, police in KwaZulu-Natal were involved in a deadly shootout linked to a kidnapping case.

A suspect connected to the abduction of a Pakistani businessman in Hluhluwe was killed during a tactical operation in Empangeni.

The businessman had been kidnapped on 6 May 2026, with kidnappers initially demanding a ransom of R200,000. After R90,000 was paid, he was released on condition that the remaining amount would be settled later.

Police later launched an operation to recover the remaining ransom, which led to a shootout with members of the Tactical Response Team. One suspect was killed, while others fled and remain at large.

Authorities have since launched a manhunt for the remaining suspects.

A week marked by violence and legal consequences

Taken together, both cases highlight the continuing strain on South Africa’s criminal justice system from deeply personal family violence rooted in cultural belief systems to organised kidnapping syndicates operating across provinces.

While each case is different, both reflect a broader reality: law enforcement is increasingly dealing with crimes shaped by a mix of tradition, desperation and organised criminal activity.

For now, the Mthatha court ruling closes one tragic chapter, but for many, it also raises difficult questions about how such violence begins in the first place, and how it might be prevented in future.