Child killer’s appeal turned down

Johannesburg - A registered sex offender’s attempt to be allowed to appeal against his long sentence came to naught when the Johannesburg High Court turned down his application on Monday.

Khanedzeni Norman Makananisa had argued that the death of the nine- year-old girl he raped, disembowelled and bludgeoned to death with a pickaxe before burning her body had not been premeditated.

He argued that the murder had been committed on the spur of the moment.

Also, Banele Khumalo’s suffering had been limited as there was indication that a blow to her head would have rendered her unconscious, making it impossible for her to feel pain as he inflicted further injuries to her scalp before disembowelling and burning her, he said.

The 34-year-old father of two also argued that he was a good candidate for rehabilitation. He said he was being punished gravely as he would carry to his grave the stigma of guilt about abusing a child. The damage to his father’s property by angry residents of Phumula Extension 21 near Spruitview, Ekurhuleni, added to his punishment.

For these reasons, he wanted Judge Jacob Francis to allow him leave to appeal against the two life terms – one for raping Banele and the other for murdering her, as well as the three years imposed for kidnapping the Grade 3 pupil.

Dismissing his application, Judge Francis said there was no reasonable prospect that another court might come to a different conclusion from that “reached by me”.

omphitlhetse.mooki@inl.co.za

The Star