Thabang Ndlovu will spend 13 years behind bars after he was found guilty of the murder of Manford Sibuyi.
The 26-year-old from Hluvukani Village blamed alcohol and told the court he was intoxicated on the day of the incident in 2016.
Appearing before magistrate Elmarie Theron at Mhala Regional Court in Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga on Friday, Thabang said he never thought an argument over a girl would lead to death.
Thabang said on that day he was at the local tavern when Manford hit him with a bottle of beer after they were involved in an argument over a girlfriend.
“I didn’t mean to kill him. I thought I was defending myself and both of us were drunk when I stabbed him three times in the neck.
His lawyer, Peter Malibe, told the court his client was still young to be sent to jail and he was also a first- time offender.
The prosecutor, Matume Maakie, said the accused did not show any sign of remorse.
The magistrate said the sentence imposed should be a warning to drunkards who misbehave after consuming alcohol.
“The fact that you claim you were both drunk did not give you any right to kill him.
“You should have reported the matter to the police instead of resorting to crime,” she said.
