Pastor and Son Get Life Imprisonment for Cutting Off Young Man Hands; Daughter-in-Law Gets 3 Years in South Africa

The Emalahleni Regional Court in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has delivered a decisive sentence in a shocking case of vigilante-style violence, sending a powerful message against brutal crime.

Zimbabwean pastor Solomon Mahlangu and his son, Enock Mahlangu, were sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of the brutal attempted murder and kidnapping of a young man they accused of stealing batteries and other items from their church premises.

The Horrific Attack in Vosman

The incident, which occurred in March 2024, began when the victim was taking a shortcut through the church premises on Kroomdraai Road towards Extension 16 in Vosman.

It was there that the victim was “confronted Enock.” The confrontation quickly turned into a gruesome attack:

“It was shared that during the scene, Enock attacked the victim, Dragged him from a vehicle and chopped his hands with a panga and during the scene, Enock abandoned the victim even though he was pleading for help on the spot.”

The severity of the crime led to attempted murder charges against both the father and son. Solomon Mahlangu’s daughter-in-law, Poppy Lethnes Mhlanga, was also convicted of kidnapping for her role in the offense.

Trial and Conviction: Justice for the Victim

During the trial, all three accused “pleaded not guilty and elected to remain silent.”

However, the State, led by Prosecutor Francois Brandt, presented a compelling case built on irrefutable evidence.

The prosecution relied heavily on “the victim’s detailed testimony of the horrific attack,” which the court ultimately accepted as “truthful and reliable.”

Crucially, the court also admitted “a photo album showing the scene where the severed hands were found.”

The defense’s testimony was found to be “bare denials” and was rejected by the court as improbable.

Prosecutor Brandt strongly argued for severe penalties, seeking “the imposition of harsh sentences to send a strong message that violent crimes will not be tolerated.”

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) issued a statement on Tuesday, November 26th, 2025, detailing the judgment: Solomon Mahlangu (the Pastor) and his son, Enock Mahlangu, were each handed a sentence of life imprisonment for attempted murder. In addition to this, they each received three years’ imprisonment for the kidnapping conviction. Both were also declared unfit to possess firearms.

The NPA welcomed the outcome, reaffirming its dedication to tackling violence:

“The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes these sentences and remains unwavering in its commitment to vigorously pursuing perpetrators of violent crimes, sending a clear and firm message to would-be offenders.”