A 31-year-old man from Butho locality in Port St Johns has been sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 152 years for murder, kidnapping and robbery.
Masixole Tyongwana was sentenced by the Mthatha High Court on Thursday, 12 March 2026, following a violent crime spree committed in Port St Johns on 27 January 2024.
The court heard that Tyongwana and an accomplice carried out multiple robberies and a kidnapping before murdering a 22-year-old victim.
What happened
According to court records, Tyongwana and his accomplice from Ngqeleni kidnapped a 22-year-old man while he was with his girlfriend at Butho locality in Port St Johns.
The suspects robbed the couple of household goods, including sound systems and cellphones. The victim’s hands were tied and the suspects drove away using his Corsa Utility bakkie.
Investigators said the suspects then targeted other victims in the same area. Several households were assaulted and robbed, and the stolen goods were loaded into the same vehicle.
The female victim was later untied and released at an unknown location. However, the 22-year-old male victim was shot and killed.
His body was later dumped at Ngqongweni locality in Ngqeleni.
Why it matters to you
The case shows the role of coordinated police investigations in solving violent crimes across the OR Tambo District.
Authorities say the conviction followed extensive investigative work that helped locate the stolen vehicle, recover evidence and identify the suspects.
What you need to know
| Key detail | Information |
| Convicted person | Masixole Tyongwana (31) |
| From | Butho locality, Port St Johns |
| Crimes | Murder, kidnapping, robbery and related charges |
| Date of crimes | 27 January 2024 |
| Arrest date | 1 February 2024 |
| Court | Mthatha High Court |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment plus 152 years |
Investigators from Port St Johns Detectives, the OR Tambo Search and Rescue Team and the Vehicle Crime Investigative Unit worked on the case.
Their investigation led to the recovery of the hijacked Corsa Utility bakkie along the R61 near KwaDosi locality in Mthatha.
What you should do next
Residents are encouraged to report violent crime, kidnappings and robberies to their nearest police station or through emergency services.
Early reporting often helps investigators recover stolen vehicles and locate victims more quickly
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