Image: SAPS

Two hitmen face imprisonment for killing a taxi man in Nongoma. – KwaZulu-Natal

The Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Makhimba Buthelezi, who is aged 33 and Thabani Ngwenya, aged 36 to two terms life imprisonment each for murder and 14-years imprisonment for charges of attempted murder. Buthelezi alone was also sentenced to 15-years imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearm and two years for possession of ammunition. 

They both were sentenced on the 25 March 2022 and the sentences are to run concurrently. 

On the 19 December 2016, Mzokhoma Dlame aged 47 was at his homestead where a traditional ceremony was held at 20:30. While at the homestead, it is said that two men appeared and fired shots at him. Mzokhoma was declared dead at the scene as he had sustained gunshot wounds on his head, the neck and his thigh. The other taxi owner that was also a victim to the shooting, managed to escape unharmed. Charges of murder and attempted murder were opened for investigation at Nongoma SAPS. 

During August in 2018, Buthelezi was said to be arrested in Maphophoma area in Nongoma where he was found in possession of a firearm with nine rounds of ammunition. Ngwenya was arrested when he attended a court in Benoni where he was arrested for unlawful possession of firearm. Both accused were convicted in court. During investigation, it was established that both the accused were linked to another case of murder and attempted murder that occured at Nongoma in 2017. 

On 17 October 2017, Mthuthuzeli Mchunu aged 66, who was said to had been standing next to his vehicle near a service station when two men approached him. The two men allegedly opened fire at him and he sustained injuries to the head and the chest and then he was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. 

A bystander had also sustained an injury on the leg therefore was also rushed to the hospital. Mchunu was a taxi owner and a chairperson of the Nongoma Taxi Association. 

#SAPS #Crime #Sentencing #Taxi Association