BLOEMFONTEIN – The Free State Division of the High Court of South Africa dealt Halimmah Thamando-Mnyobisi (39) another hefty blow, sentencing her to life imprisonment for the contract murder of her husband, teacher Fezile Fredrick Mnyobisi, in 2023. The fugitive wife’s earlier setback was in September 2025, when the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) secured a High Court forfeiture order for R1.3 million in assets combined.

Thamando-Mnyobisi was joined in the life sentence by convicted hitmen Vusimuzi Daniel Nqele (43) and Moeketsi Innocent Manko (35), while Abdool Rahman Thamando (35), brother-in-law of the deceased, received 20 years. Rahman Thamando is the brother of Halimmah, whom police investigations identified as the mastermind behind the premeditated contract murder of her husband.

The Free State police confirmed, in a statement issued on Thursday 2 July, the sentencing of all four accused by the High Court at its Botshabelo sitting, for acting in concert to murder Mnyobisi.

“All four accused were convicted of premeditated murder. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had sustained more than 30 stab wounds to his torso,” said Sgt Mahlomola Kareli, spokesperson for the provincial police.

Monyobisi worked at the Refihlile Primary School in C-Section at the time of his murder and was 35 years old. It emerged that the brutal knife attack occurred at nighttime in a corridor separating the Setjhaba Se Makatse High School and houses in Section H, Botshabelo, on 15 September 2023.

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The murder was initially suspected to be a random robbery because Monyobisi’s cellphone was taken. To evade suspicion, Halimmah herself drove her dying husband to the Botshabelo District Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

“Following an intense and multi-disciplinary investigation by the Provincial Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, alongside the Investigative Psychology Section, warrants of arrest were issued. Hitmen Nqele and Manko were arrested on 8 November 2024, for murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Investigation led to the arrest of Rahman Thamando,” Kareli explained.

He said the final piece of the puzzle fell into place on 26 November 2024 with the arrest of Halimmah, who had been on the run. “She was found hiding at a luxury residential complex in Sandton, staying with her alleged boyfriend. She was swiftly arrested to face justice alongside her co-conspirators,” said Kareli.

He said the conviction was the result of exceptional teamwork involving investigative detectives and the NPA. They are WO Lehlohonolo Tloanyane and Sgt Lebohang Nkopane, led by Capt. Sandile Dladla, working in close consultation with State Advocate Dansi Mpemvane of the NPA.

“The accused were linked through cellphone evidence and tracking data obtained from the deceased’s wife’s vehicle tracking records. A case of murder and robbery was subsequently registered,” said Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the NPA in the Free State.

Halimmah, who was the main beneficiary of Mnyobisi’s pension payout and investments, forfeited a property worth R750 000 in Sandton, R300 000 in pension payout, and more than R260 000 from the deceased teacher’s investments. She purchased the property shortly after receiving payments.