Two men were sentenced to 39 years imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder and malicious injury to property in Eshowe in 2021.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Bhekizenzo Mtshali, 38, and Lindelani Nsele, 28, to an effective 39-year imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to the murder, attempted murder and malicious damage to property they committed in March 2021 in the Mandeni area of Eshowe.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said the deceased, Sibani Robert Mdletshe, had been a ward councillor who had also been 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 March 5, 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,” Ms Ramkisson-Kara said.
“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 Mr Mdletshe had been shot with different firearms and that more than 22 empty cartridges had been found on the scene. He died instantly. The complainant’s leg was crushed and had to be salvaged by medical procedures involving metal rods.
“Mr Gcweka also told the court about the pain and trauma suffered by the Mdletshe’s family following the attack. They spoke about how his loss impacted their community at large,” Ms Ramkisson-Kara said.
“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.”