A South African man who walked into a police station carrying body parts and claimed he was "tired of eating human flesh" has been sentenced to life in prison for murder, along with one of his accomplices.

Key points: Nino Mbatha was arrested after he pulled a human hand and a leg out of his bag in a police station in 2017

Nino Mbatha was arrested after he pulled a human hand and a leg out of his bag in a police station in 2017 Judge Peter Olsen called the case the "stuff of nightmares"

Judge Peter Olsen called the case the "stuff of nightmares" The men's previous appearances in court were met with large crowds and armed police

Traditional healer Nino Mbatha, 33, and Lungisani Magubane, 32, stood trial in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg for the 2017 murder of 24-year-old Zanele Hlatshwayo.

A third man, Khayelihle Lamula, was acquitted due to a lack of evidence, according to The Witness newspaper.

The court found the men had killed Ms Hlatshwayo for her body parts, but Judge Peter Olsen said the way the men had been caught was "remarkable".

Police became aware of the men after Mbatha approached the station in the town of Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal province and told them he needed assistance.

At first they thought he had mental health problems, before he produced a human hand and leg from his bag.

The arrest of the man who entered the police station led to the other arrests and the recovery of more body parts, a police spokeswoman said at the time of the arrest.

The men's previous court appearances have been met with large crowds and the presence of armed police. ( AP )

According to The Witness, Magubane made a detailed statement about his role in the murder.

Judge Olsen said they were guilty of "the most heinous crime".

"What happened in this case is truly awful. It was the stuff of nightmares," he said.

"How one would react in such circumstances is unpredictable.

"One may well want to unburden oneself of guilt, but later have second thoughts."

Five men were originally arrested over the murder and their court appearances in Estcourt were met with large crowds and armed guards.