Zuko Komisa

The Joe Gqabi District South African Police Service (SAPS) is celebrating another significant victory in its ongoing fight against crime, as a 31-year-old man has been handed a hefty 25-year prison sentence for attempted murder.
This substantial conviction is a testament to the diligent investigative work carried out by district detectives and the effective collaboration between law enforcement and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The severe sentence was delivered to Motlatsi Mpharu by the Sterkspruit Regional Court on May 23, 2025. Mpharu was found guilty of the brutal attempted murder of Mpho Kutoana, 22, an incident that occurred on January 5, 2025.
According to reports, Kutoana was visiting her boyfriend’s residence when a heated argument erupted. Mpharu, accusing her of infidelity, allegedly tied her with an electrical cable, stabbed her in the left thigh, and then doused her with petrol before setting her alight.
In a bizarre turn of events, Mpharu himself reportedly caught fire during the attack and had to extinguish the flames.
The victim, Mpho Kutoana, suffered severe burn wounds and required hospitalisation at Mpilisweni Hospital for two months following the horrific ordeal.
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