By Priya Ranchod
More than a year after an altercation inside a Laudium home ended in the death of a 79-year-old father, his son has been sentenced to an effective five years' imprisonment after admitting that his negligent actions led to the tragic incident.
NPA Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Mohammed Taahir Bhoola (46) was initially charged with murder following the death of his father, Younous Bhoola, at their home in Cuprene Street, Laudium, Pretoria, in September 2025.
Mahanjana explained that after the post-mortem report was received and the cause of death was thoroughly assessed, the charge was reduced to culpable homicide.
"The accused person was initially charged with murder. However, after receipt of the post-mortem report and studying the cause of death, the charges were downgraded to culpable homicide," she said.
According to Mahanjana, the evidence and medical findings did not support a murder charge, as there was no proof that the accused intentionally killed his father.
"The deceased was assaulted with hands and was bleeding after the assault. He went into the bathroom to wash off the blood, where he fell to the floor. The injury sustained during the fall caused his death," she said.
Bhoola subsequently pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, admitting that he had negligently caused his father's death.
Mahanjana further clarified that there was no plea agreement between the State and the accused.
The court convicted Bhoola of culpable homicide and sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, with five years suspended for five years, resulting in an effective prison term of five years.
"The accused person was found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, half of which is suspended for five years. He will spend five years in prison," said Mahanjana.
She stressed that Bhoola will serve a custodial sentence of five years behind bars.