Linyane Hilda

The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 21, 2010. The location was Sherwood Farm, a dairy property located in the Rosetta and Mooi River area within the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.The attack involved a planned strategy where the perpetrators intentionally set fire to the farm's grazing veld to lure the occupants out of the farmhouse to fight the blaze. While the farmer, Neville Karg, and several workers were out combating the fire, Lorraine Karg returned to the farmhouse to fetch additional fire-fighting equipment and tools. Upon entering, she and the accompanying staff members were ambushed by an armed gang.The way of death varied among the victims targeted during the confrontation. Lorraine Karg died from severe blood loss over a period of 15 to 20 minutes after her throat was slit by the attackers using a knife. Two farm employees were killed alongside her during the same ambush. The farm's former gardener, Shayi Zakius Mhlongo (also recorded as Zacheus or Zakhewo Mhlongo, aged 65–66), similarly had his throat slit and bled to death within five to eight minutes. The domestic worker, Hilda Linyane (aged 34), died from a fatal gunshot wound to her chest that penetrated her lung. Two other employees, Bonginkosi Mhlongo and Innocent Linyane, were assaulted and beaten during the attack but survived. The only item successfully stolen from the property during the attack was a cellphone. Wednesday, July 28, 2010, by tracking down and arresting four suspects in Hlatikulu township near Mooi River. During the operation, police recovered a 9mm pistol and knives. Shortly after the arrests, one of the suspects, identified as Mnqobi Maphalala (also referred to as Colin Maphalala, aged 31), attempted to escape during fingerprinting at the Mooi River Police Station. He disarmed an officer and fired a shot, resulting in police firing back and killing him. Another individual, Velaphi Magubane, was initially detained and offered indemnity to turn state witness, though he later recanted his statement during the trial. On Wednesday, July 25, 2012, Acting Judge Muzi Ncube officially convicted 21-year-old Mzwandile Magubane on three counts of murder, attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The conviction was secured after forensic teams matched Magubane’s palm print inside the Sherwood farmhouse, discovered the Karg family's television remotes inside his room, and documented a formal point-out of the crime scene he made to police captains. The co-accused standing trial alongside him was Nhlanhla Dladla. Acting High Court Judge Muzi Ncube sentenced Mzwandile Magubane to three life prison terms plus an additional 23 years in jail.The Pietermaritzburg High Court handed down this sentence on Friday, July 27, 2012. The three life sentences were issued for the murders of Lorraine Karg, Hilda Linyane, and Shayi Zakius Mhlongo. The additional 23-year prison sentence was imposed for the related counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted robbery, and assault.During the sentencing, the judge noted that the victims were completely unarmed and defenceless, describing Magubane's actions as brutal, cruel, and senseless. He further stated that the court had a strict duty to send a clear message that violent attacks on the farming community would not be tolerated.