Thabo Tomanyane was sentenced to 15 years for killing his friend in cold blood over a measly R10 debt.
Thabo Tomanyane sentenced for killing friend over R10 debt
On Monday, a packed Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court hosted the sentencing of Tomanyane, a 24-year-old who gutted his friend in cold blood six months ago.
According to police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, Tomanyane committed the heinous murder on the evening of Wednesday, 28 September 2022.
At approximately 20:00 that fateful evening, Tomanyane stormed into a house in Kgotsong, Bothaville, where a group of friends were hanging out.
A highly-irate Tomanyane singled out a 30-year-old male and forced him outside. The court would later learn that the fiery confrontation stemmed from a R10 debt owed by the victim.
It’s believed Tomanyane hounded the victim about the money and got highly frustrated when he realised his 30-year-old mate did not have it.
According to police, Tomanyane saw red, pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim six times. Multiple stab wounds landed in the victim’s chest, and others in his back, as he tried to escape.
It only took a few hours to track down Tomanyane at his parents’ home. Detectives were able to recover the suspect’s blood-stained clothing and the murder weapon.
For state prosecutors, the case against Tomanyane was straightforward. The victim’s blood on the clothes he wore that evening, eyewitness testimonies from the group of friends who watched helplessly as their mate was gutted to death, and the murder weapon were enough to fast-track a conviction.
On Monday, the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court sentenced Tomanyane to 15 years in prison for murder. He will be 39 years old when he completes his prison sentence.
However, based on South Africa’s parole system, which grants inmates an opportunity to apply for conditional release, Tomanyane could be on the streets as early as 2030, after serving half of his term.
In that case, he could be as young as 31 when he’s eligible for release. This alternative, however, is subject to specific parole conditions.
