A 33-year-old Eastern Cape man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his 69-year-old mother after accusing her of bewitching him.

The Sterkspruit Regional Court imposed the life sentence on Songezo Michael Moholei following his conviction for the murder of his mother, Maphumulo Moholei. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the attack was driven by accusations of witchcraft and took place in front of neighbours.

Moholei appeared in court on a charge of murder and elected to plead guilty in terms of Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act after the State presented overwhelming evidence against him.

According to the NPA, the murder took place on 9 October 2025 at Terminus locality in the Voyizana area near Sterkspruit.

In his plea explanation, Moholei admitted that he returned home late on the night of the incident and became involved in an argument with his mother. During the confrontation, he accused her of bewitching him.

He admitted taking a wooden stick from his mother and striking her on the head before repeatedly assaulting her on the rest of her body.

The brutal attack unfolded in full view of neighbours who witnessed the incident.

Following the assault, Maphumulo Moholei was rushed to Empilisweni Hospital for medical treatment. Despite efforts to save her life, she later died from the injuries she had sustained during the attack.

During sentencing proceedings, State Prosecutor Anele Magibile argued that the court should impose a severe sentence because the offence was committed against a vulnerable elderly woman in a domestic setting.

The prosecution further submitted that the murder was motivated by harmful superstition and represented a serious violation of the trust that exists between a parent and child.

Magibile also argued that the sentence should serve as a deterrent against gender based violence and femicide, as well as crimes committed under the guise of witchcraft accusations.

The court agreed with the State’s submissions and sentenced Moholei to life imprisonment.

The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the Eastern Cape, Advocate Samkelo Mtwana, welcomed the outcome, saying the sentence reflected the seriousness with which the NPA viewed violent crimes committed within families.

Mtwana said the conviction and sentence demonstrated the prosecuting authority’s commitment to ensuring perpetrators of domestic violence were held accountable through the courts.

“This sentence demonstrates our commitment to fully prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence under the law. We will not tolerate violence fuelled by superstition and misinformation,” he said.

The NPA said the sentence sends a clear message that violence arising from witchcraft accusations will not be tolerated and that offenders will face the full consequences of the law.

The authority also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting women, elderly people and other vulnerable members of society from violent crime.

It said prosecutors would continue to pursue perpetrators of domestic violence and gender based violence relentlessly to ensure justice for victims and their families.

The life sentence brings to a close the prosecution of a case in which an elderly mother lost her life at the hands of her own son after he falsely accused her of bewitching him. The NPA said such acts of violence, particularly against vulnerable family members, remain a priority for prosecution as authorities continue efforts to combat domestic violence and protect those most at risk.