Dad who poisoned children sentenced to double life in jail term

Dannyboy Fistos Khumalo has been sentenced to a double life jail sentence in the Pretoria High Court after being found guilty of murdering his two sons by poisoning.

Khumalo, 37, of Vaalkop in Brits was also sentenced to a further three years in jail for defeating the ends of justice. 

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Khumalo’s sentencing on Wednesday followed his conviction for murdering his 11-year-old and 12-year-old sons by giving them poisoned water.  

“Khumalo stayed with the two children and their mother, Sinah Nthabiseng Mosiea. The couple had relationship problems,” Mahanjana said.

“Mosiea left the children with Khumalo in Vaalkop while she went to visit her parent’s home in Krugersdorp. On 14 May 2020, she received a voice message of her children crying and a video footage of Khumalo mixing a liquid substance. He threatened Mosiea to return home otherwise he would kill the children,” Mahanjana said.

“On the next day, the children were found dead in bed after Khumalo reported to the police and his employer that the children took rat poison thinking it was sweets.”

Four days later, when Khumalo and his father went to identify the body of the children, accompanied by the police, he confessed to the murders. 

“The police arrested him on the spot and he has been in custody since,” Mahanjana said. 

“Owing to Mosiea’s inability to take the witness stand, the court preparation officer, Amokelani Mashele, read out her victim impact statement. Mosiea was further referred for grief counselling.” 

State advocate, Dorah Ngobeni, asked the court to impose the minimum prescribed sentence. 

She opposed the application for leave to appeal brought by Khumalo in  and Acting Judge, Avvokoumides dismissed the application.  

The court ordered the sentences of the dad who poisoned his children to run concurrently.