Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) leader Eugene Terre’Blanche’s murderer, Chris Mahlangu, has been sentenced to life inprisonment and an additional 17 years in jail by the Circuit Court of the North West in Ventersdorp. Mahlangu was found guilty of murder, housebreaking and theft.

His co-accused, 18-year-old Patrick Ndlovu who has been acquitted of murder but convicted of house breaking with intent to steal, is to be sentenced in a short while.

Ndlovu has apologised to the late AWB leader’s family. This, he did through his legal representative Zola Majavu, who conveyed the message to the North West Circuit Court in Ventersdorp in the presence of the Terre’Blanche family. Majavu said his client did not plan to commit crime, but he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Terre’Blanche was hacked to death at his farm house outside Ventersdorp in April 2010. Judge John Horn says Mahlangu has committed a serious crime and the community is looking upon the court impose an appropriate sentence.

AWB members and mostly farmers have gathered outside the court. Supporters of Mahlangu and Ndlovu also gathered in the court.

A large police contingent is continuing to monitor the situation. SABC – http://www.sabcnews.co.za