MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The family of Sinethemba Godfrey Beyi, who was killed following a fatal stabbing in Adriaans Avenue, KwaNonqaba, in 2023, said they will be challenging the court’s decision to convict the man responsible on a charge of culpable homicide.
Athenkosi Jidana (33) pleaded guilty to this charge in August, and the Mossel Bay Regional Court sentenced him on it last Thursday, 29 October, to 36 months of correctional supervision and five years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he is not convicted of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm or culpable homicide during that period.
He was also sentenced to a 24-hour house arrest, subject to several conditions, as well as community service. He has to attend several programmes, including those focusing on life skills, managing negative emotions and problem-solving.
The Beyi family said it is deeply disappointed and dissatisfied with the sentence, and feels the justice system has failed them and Beyi.
Sinethemba Godfrey Beyi
“Sinethemba was a husband and father of four children who have been left with lifelong emotional scars. We have escalated this matter to the National Prosecuting Authority and senior government officials and are pursuing all available legal avenues to challenge the outcome and seek an appropriate custodial sentence,” said the family.
“We will not rest until justice is served. Every human life deserves dignity, protection and meaningful accountability under the law,” they said.
* The National Prosecuting Authority's Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has received a letter from the family in which they expressed their concerns.
“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has requested a report and will communicate directly with the family as soon as he has received the report and studied it,” he said.
*This article was amended on 2 November to include comment from the National Prosecuting Authority.
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