Murderer of Tutu worker gets life

THE MAN convicted of the murdering the live-in domestic worker of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s daughter has been sentenced to life behind bars.

Olwethu Matiso, 24, was sentenced for the murder of Angela Machinga, 40, in the Cape Town Regional Court yesterday. He was also sentenced to 15 years in prison on a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The 24- year- old was convicted in September.

He killed Machinga, a mother of two, in the bedroom of Mpho Tutu’s Milnerton home on April 12, 2012.

Machinga was strangled and her body wrapped in a rug.

Matiso had worked as Tutu’s gardener for about a year, but had also done odd jobs in the house.

Mpho Tutu, who testified during the trial, and her mother Leah Tutu have attended proceedings in the past, but were not present for yesterday’s sentencing.

Before sentencing, parole officer Fezeka Magaqana read out her pre-sentencing report, which said Matiso grew up as one of five siblings, without a father.

He was raised by his grandmother and older sister, while his mother worked to support the family. He quit school in Grade 9.

Although Matiso denied throughout that he committed the murder, the report said he acknowledged the seriousness of Machinga’s death, and the effect on her family.

Magaqana recommended a prison sentence in light of the seriousness of the crime.

Matiso, dressed all in white, stood silent in the dock as magistrate Victor Gibson read out the verdict.

He considered Matiso’s chance of rehabilitation because of his status as a firsttime offender, and his youth, but ultimately handed down a life sentence.

“I cannot ignore the fact it was a particularly brutal murder. One can only conclude a great deal of suffering preceded the deceased’s demise,” he said, adding that the murder had had a ripple effect on Machinga’s two children.

Her daughter, now 21, was in matric and was forced to leave school because she could not afford the fees. She had few economic opportunities.

Gibson added that Matiso had also violated Mpho Tutu’s right to privacy.

The court heard previously that Matiso had left his job without giving notice, about a month before the murder. There had been no forced entry, giving the impression that the perpetrator had access to the house, or that Machinga knew her attacker.

Matiso had been given a key to the pedestrian gate in 2011. He could not take it home and at one stage had lost it. A duplicate was made for him.

“The deceased used inside knowledge in order to gain access to the premises, and was aware the deceased would be on the premises,” said Gibson.

Andre Kirsten, Matiso’s lawyer, said he was disappointed with the sentence. They would appeal against it.