Vincent Phahlane Receives Life Imprisonment for Child Murder and Other Charges

In a courtroom brimming with a mix of sorrow and relief, the gavel came down hard, marking the end of a provocative case that gripped Vaalbank, a community shaken by unimaginable violence. Vincent Chunky Phahlane, a 44-year-old man, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his ex-girlfriend’s two-year-old nephew, Akanyang Maite, and a series of related criminal activities.

It all began on November 30, 2020, when a series of violent incidents culminated in an act of ultimate cruelty that deprived a young child of life. According to the official statement from Col Donald Mdhluli, the Mpumalanga police spokesperson, the day's tragic events began to unfold with Phahlane, in a state of enraged obsession, stealing a firearm from his father and seeking out his ex-girlfriend at her place of work at Vaalbank. When his ex-girlfriend refused to meet him, Phahlane discharged the stolen firearm within school premises, causing panic but fortunately not injuring anyone.

However, the respite from violence was brief, as Phahlane proceeded to his other ex-girlfriend's residence where he encountered her aunt. In a horrifying turn, Phahlane communicated his intent to find his ex’s child and then fatally shot the toddler. The aunt’s screams, provoked by the grievous act, did not stop Phahlane from also shooting her, striking her jaw in a ruthless attempt to silence the witness to his crime. Mercifully, the aunt survived and lived to give her testimony.

Phahlane’s flight from justice was as brief as it was futile. Fleeing the scene and evading law enforcement authorities for over a month, he ultimately surrendered to the local police in Vaalbank on January 7, 2021. Charges were promptly laid against him, including murder, attempted murder, and multiple firearm-related offenses. Though initially granted bail, Phahlane found himself confined once more when he pleaded guilty to the charges on June 5, 2023. With bail rescinded, his confinement continued until sentencing.

The verdict was exacting and comprehensive. Life imprisonment for the cruel snatching away of a young and innocent life, and additional concurrent sentences of eight years for attempted murder, seven years each for theft and the reckless discharge of a firearm in a public area, seven years for unlawful possession of a firearm, and three years for possessing ammunition unlawfully were laid out by the judge. The court’s message was unambiguous: Vincent Phahlane’s violent spree had earned him a cumulative 24 years behind bars, all to run concurrently with the life sentence. Furthermore, in a final judgment that underscored the severity of Phahlane's acts, the court declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

This sentencing closes a chapter on a haunting story of violence and loss, sending a strong message of accountability and justice to the community of Vaalbank and beyond. It brings some solace to the bereaved family and offers a degree of closure to all affected by the senseless violence that unfolded that fateful November day.