After six years, man is jailed for life in DNA bungled murder case

Simbongile Mancotywa was murdered on 9 May 2020. Six years later, on 9 April her murderer was sentenced for life in jail. Photo supplied

Simbongile Mancotywa was murdered on 9 May 2020 in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape. According to her family, she was shot 15 times.

Thozamile Flathela, the father of her two children, handed himself over to the police. He was charged with murder and rape but pleaded not guilty. He was later released on R2,000 bail.

The case was eventually struck off the court roll due to delays in obtaining DNA test results.

In 2023, GroundUp reported on the delays and how the family had been left in the dark for three years.

A month after the article was published, the case was reinstated.

Her brother, Athi Mancotywa, said he received a call from the investigating officer informing him that the matter was back in court. “I could not believe what I was hearing. I had already lost hope,” he said.

“When I approached the GroundUp reporter, I was just trying my luck. I had previously approached people in high positions, including ministers, who promised to help but never responded,” said Mancotywa.

“We believe that if it was not for that article, the matter might not have been resolved.”

“When we read the GroundUp article, we discovered that DNA samples had to be taken again. That raised questions because we were never informed as a family,” he said.

“There were many challenges, investigating officers kept changing without our knowledge, and I made countless follow-ups with the police, until I became exhausted,” he said.

The case shifted between the Butterworth and Mthatha high courts.

“I was happy the matter was back in court, but I didn’t want to raise my hopes,” said Mancotywa.

Flathela was found guilty on both charges in July last year and remained in custody while awaiting sentencing.

Mancotywa said that before sentencing, Flathela wrote a letter apologising to the family, which was read in court.

“Now we are relieved. Before the sentencing, I was unwell. For the first time I slept peacefully, knowing the man who killed my sister is behind bars,” he said.

Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Flathela was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday, 9 April by the Mthatha High Court.

Support independent journalism
Donate using Payfast