Limpopo man sentenced to life imprisonment for hacking wife to death with panga

A 53-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife in a brutal attack at their home in Limpopo, which left their three children without both parents.

The Tzaneen Regional Court sentenced Mozambican national Augusto Manhama Machaira after finding him guilty of murdering his wife at Rasewana Village in the Bolobedu area.

The murder took place on 31 December 2024, when Machaira allegedly refused to allow his wife to leave their home to join community members celebrating New Year’s Eve.

During the incident, he picked up a panga inside the house and repeatedly struck her on the back of the head. She died at the scene, while Machaira left her lying in a pool of blood before handing himself over to police at Bolobedu Police Station.

Machaira pleaded not guilty to the charge.

However, the State, led by prosecutor Brown Ramohlola, presented evidence from witnesses, including neighbours, and successfully proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

During arguments on sentence, the prosecution described the murder as particularly brutal and highlighted that Machaira had threatened to kill his wife days before the attack.

The State argued that the threats demonstrated that the murder was premeditated.

Prosecutors also emphasised that the attack happened while the couple’s children were playing outside the house, leaving them traumatised by the loss of their mother.

Presiding Officer Antoinette Laminga strongly condemned violence against women, noting that Machaira’s actions had effectively left the children without both parents and devastated a community that should have been celebrating the arrival of a new year.

The court further found that Machaira had shown no remorse for his actions.

The investigation was conducted by Constable Khosa of Kgapane Police Station.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the life sentence, describing it as an appropriate response to the continued scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

The authority reiterated its commitment to prosecuting perpetrators of gender-based violence and working with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible face the full might of the law.