North West - A 37-year-old-man was sentenced to two life sentences for two counts of murder at the North West High Court in Mahikeng on Friday, police reported on Tuesday.
Police said Phangi Michael Mqathula was arrested in December 2013 after setting alight a shack where his girlfriend’s younger sister’s two children were sleeping.
Police arrived on the scene on Christmas Day and “found a three-roomed shack with two children inside, on fire”.
North West police said in a statement: “The police together with members of the community fought hard to extinguish the fire and eventually gained entrance into the shack and found two children burned to ashes. The suspect was traced and arrested and charged with two counts of murder, arson and assault with (the intention) to do grievous bodily harm.”
The sentences on one count of murder, arson and assault with the intention to do grievous bodily harm will run concurrently with a life sentence on another count of murder, police said.
Mqathula had been arrested and convicted several times between 2003 and 2012 for a range of crimes including burglary, stock theft and assault.
North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo said: “We commend all members who dedicated their time to ensure that maximum sentenced is secured against the merciless accused. Together with other role players, we will continue to ensure that those who transgress the law are dealt with accordingly.”
ANA