Siblings bash, burn father to death

TWO siblings from Tsholotsho viciously beat up their father before dousing him with five litres of petrol and setting his body on fire, a court heard yesterday.

Onesmo Khumalo, 19, and his 20-year-old sister Bethester appeared before Tsholotsho magistrate Abednigo Ndebele for the gruesome killing of their father Kwabokwashe Khumalo .

Both are facing murder charges and were remanded in custody to January 12. They were also advised to apply to the High Court for bail.

For the State, Sikhumbuzo Sibanda said the siblings murdered their father on November 27 for yet unknown reasons.

"On the day in question, Onesmo and Bethester allegedly entered their father's bedroom hut. Onesmo assaulted his father twice with a knobkerrie before dousing him with five litres of petrol. Bethester then set him and his bedroom ablaze," said Sibanda.

"After setting their father on fire, they then left the bedroom hut which was now ablaze, leaving their father to burn beyond recognition."

The incident follows the Boxing Day murder of a 16-year-old Tsholotsho boy in a suspected love wrangle.

Geoffrey Ndlovu of Dombo area stabbed and killed Mncedisi Malaba and is on the run.

Police in Matabeleland North Province recently expressed concern over the escalation of violent crimes in Tsholotsho.

The rape of minors in the district now tops national statistics.

In September, High Court Judge Andrew Mutema sitting in Hwange on circuit, sentenced three Tsholotsho men Makhula Ncube, Atlas Moyo and Liketso Moyo from the Gotshani area to an effective eight years in prison for killing Shepherd Ndebele for not having a national identity card.

In his ruling, the judge bemoaned the fact that most of the murders in Matabeleland North were committed over petty issues.