In a chilling turn of events, two men have been sentenced to 39 years in prison each for the murder of a ward councillor in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Bhekizenzo Mtshali, 38, and Lindelani Nsele, 28, pleaded guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, and malicious damage to property.
The incident took place in Mandeni, Eshowe in March 2021, when the victim, Sibani Robert Mdletshe, a ward councillor and taxi industry operator, was gunned down at a shopping center. Mdletshe was with a relative and two others when Mtshali and Nsele opened fire, killing him instantly and injuring the relative.
Prior to the murder, Mdletshe had been a witness to the torching of his taxi and personal vehicle, for which suspects had been arrested. It is believed that his role as a witness may have been a factor in the attack.
During the sentencing in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, the court heard that Mdletshe was shot with multiple firearms, and more than 22 spent cartridges were found at the scene. The relative’s leg was severely injured and required medical procedures involving metal rods to salvage.
Mtshali and Nsele were sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for the murder, 12 years for the attempted murder, and 2 years for the malicious damage to property, resulting in an effective sentence of 39 years. The court also declared the duo unfit to possess firearms.
