Zimbabwean Pastor and Son Get Life Sentences For Chopping Off Man’s Hands
By Natasha Munyukwa
On November 24, 2025, Pastor Solomon Mhlanga and his son, Enoch, were each sentenced to life in prison by the Witbank Regional Court in South Africa. Mhlanga’s wife, Poppy, received a three-year sentence for her role in the crime, which included kidnapping.
The family was found guilty on November 21 of attempted murder, kidnapping, and obstructing justice. Their convictions arose from a violent incident in March 2024, during which they accused Dumisani Mahlangu of stealing batteries and other items from their church. The attack involved chopping off Mahlangu’s hands.
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According to reports, Mahlangu was walking along Kroomdraai Road toward Extension 16 in Vosman when the trio allegedly threatened him with a firearm, forced him into a bakkie, and took him to a secluded area. His hands and feet were bound, and after setting the vehicle ablaze, they used a machete to sever his hands.
Mahlangu spoke to Daily Sun following the sentencing, expressing relief that his attackers would serve long sentences. “I couldn’t sleep at night, always thinking about these people. Now that they are sentenced, I feel better and can finally sleep peacefully,” he said.
His father, Johannes Mahlangu, acknowledged the irreversible nature of the injury his son suffered and urged others to refrain from taking justice into their own hands. “The devil led this man to do what he did. I’m satisfied with the sentences imposed; they are fair,” he stated. However, he added, “I’m happy, but not completely, as I still have to care for Dumisani, who cannot do anything for himself. That’s what pains me the most.”
