Thabo Titi, 39, was sentenced by the Phuthaditjhaba Regional Court on Tuesday for the murder of Motang on 17 September 2011.

News24 reports according to the National Prosecuting Authority, Titi and five of his friends went looking for Motang as they believed he was responsible for damaging a vehicle that belonged to one of Titi's friends.

"They arrived at Motang's parental home and found Motang's younger brother (Thabo). Titi was carrying five litres of petrol and threatened to burn the house down," NPA spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said.

"Thabo pleaded with them not to burn the house and even offered to assist them to find his brother. They forced him into the car and went looking for Motang."

"Thabo called his father while in the car, telling him that Titi is threatening to kill Motang. The father tried to reason with Titi, but he was not willing to listen. Titi told the father that he is going to kill Motang."

Titi and his friends then confronted Motang after he was found in a tavern. They attacked him with sticks and axes. However, Motang overpowered them, and they ran away.

"They later came back with Titi carrying a gun, and he shot Motang four times in full view of Thabo and other patrons at the tavern. Motang died on the scene."

Titi and his friends kicked Motang while he was lying dead on the ground. They poured petrol over his body and gave Thabo matches, instructing him to torch the body, but he refused.

Shuping said the trial was delayed for almost a decade because the accused kept changing lawyers, and that some of the exhibits had been lost.

Titi's friends, who took part in the attack and murder, had since died, and a fifth friend, who was the owner of the gun used, was found not guilty.

During sentencing proceedings, the State argued that Titi thought he was untouchable because he even attacked police officers when they wanted to arrest him.

"The accused was [a] law unto himself because he did not want to listen to anyone who tried to reason with him," the prosecutor said.

"He killed the deceased in front of his bother. He told the deceased's father that he is going to kill him, which proves that the murder was premeditated and the only appropriate sentence the court can impose is a direct term of imprisonment."

News24