MEN GET 39 YEARS AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO MURDER
The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced Bhekizenzo Mtshali (38) and Lindelani Nsele (28), to an effective 39-year imprisonment after they pleaded guilty (Section 112) to the murder, attempted murder and malicious injury to property they committed in March 2021 in the Mandeni area of Eshowe. The deceased, Sibani Robert Mdletshe, was a ward councillor who was also involved in the taxi business in the Mandeni area. Sometime before these offences, a minibus taxi and a motor vehicle belonging to Mdletshe were burnt in Mandeni. Some people were arrested, and Mdletshe was the only witness to the offence. Then on 05 March 2021, Mdletshe was with a relative (complainant in the attempted murder charge), and two other people when he was gunned down by Mtshali and Nsele at a shopping centre in the area. Mdletshe was shot several times and died on the scene, while the complainant was taken for medical attention. The motor vehicle that they were in was also damaged. Mtshali and Nsele fled the scene but were eventually arrested after police acted on information provided to them.
In aggravation of sentence, Advocate Elvis Gcweka told the court that Mdletshe was shot with different firearms and more than 22 empty cartridges were found on the scene. He died instantly. The complainant’s leg was crushed and had to be salvaged by medical procedures involving metal rods.
Adv. Gcweka also told the court about the pain and trauma suffered by the Mdletshe’s family following the attack. They said his loss impacted their community at large. Mtshali and Nsele were sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for murder, 12 years imprisonment for attempted murder and two years imprisonment for malicious injury to property, thus resulting in an effective sentence of 39 years. They were also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence, and we commend the successful partnership between the Prosecution and the Police.
