PASTOR AND HIS FAMILY SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER
By: Ntsikelelo Jonga | Malahleni
The eMalahleni Regional Court handed down its final verdict on Monday, 24 November 2025, sentencing Zimbabwean‑born pastor Solomon Mhlanga (66) and his son Enock Mhlanga (21) to life imprisonment for attempted murder, with an additional three‑year term for kidnapping. The pastor’s wife, Poppy Mhlanga (45), received a three-year direct-imprisonment sentence for her role in the kidnapping.
The three appeared before the court for sentencing after being convicted on Friday, 21 November 2025. Solomon and Enock Mhlanga were found guilty on both charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, while Poppy Mhlanga was convicted only of kidnapping.
The trio was arrested on 27 March 2024 in Hlalanikahle for kidnapping Dumisani Mahlangu (31), amputating his hands with a panga in a forest at Kromdraai, and leaving him to die after being accused of stealing.
The court heard how Mahlangu was beaten inside and outside the church premises before heading to Kromdraai. Poppy Mhlanga suggested that the victim be tied up so that he doesn’t escape. Enock held the victim’s hands tight against the wood while his father, Solomon, chopped off his right hand first with the panga.
Mahlangu begged the pastor not to cut off his second hand, but Mhlanga continued to chop off his second hand and watched his hand moving on the ground, and he replied to the victim, “Soldiers die in the war.”
The state prosecutor said that the priest and his son gave Mahlangu a life sentence when they chopped off his hands.
“If they gave Mahlangu a life sentence by depending on other people, they also have to get life imprisonment.”
“They took Mahlangu’s life, and we are taking theirs.”
The magistrate, JJ Combrink, said that the court needs to send a clear message that vigilantism will not be tolerated, the accused showed no remorse during the trial, and they inflicted lifetime pain on the victim.
“Without hands, how does one eat, bath, and button up?” asked the magistrate.
“This crime was inhumane; clearly they tried to kill the victim in a brutal and horrific manner and left him to die,” added the magistrate.
Speaking after the hearing, Dumisani Mahlangu said he was happy with the sentence handed down to the accused. “I will now sleep peacefully, and my heart is at ease knowing that they are sentenced to life imprisonment.
Johannes Mahlangu (68), the victim’s father, appealed to the eMalahleni community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. “I am not happy to see the pastor and his family go to prison because prison life is not good for people,” he said.
Despite the court’s outcome, Johannes Mahlangu said his son’s life remains unchanged. “I still have a lot of work to do to assist him to eat, bath and handle other daily tasks,” he explained.
The sentencing brin togs closure to a case that shocked the community, yet the Mahlangu family continues to grapple with the physical and emotional aftermath of the attack.
