LIFE AND 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR ROBBERY AND MURDER
01 AUGUST 2025
LIFE AND 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR ROBBERY AND MURDER
The Ulundi Regional Court has sentenced Simphiwe Mdletshe (34) to life and 15 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the robbery and murder of a metered taxi driver in October 2024. The incident took place along the R66 road in Ulundi.
On 08 October 2024, Mdletshe and his co-perpetrators contacted the deceased, Cebolenkosi Mnyandu, who was a metered taxi driver operating in the Ulundi area. They requested transportation from Melmoth to Newcastle. Along the way, they decided to rob Mnyandu of his motor vehicle and kill him. They strangled him with a rope and dumped his body in a forest near the Denny Dalton area and drove to Newcastle. Mdletshe was arrested the following day after the motor vehicle was traced through the tracking device.
In addition, Mnyandu’s cellphone was found in the motor vehicle. While Mdletshe opted to plead guilty, his co-perpetrators are still at large. In aggravation of the sentence, Prosecutor Romualda Buthelezi told the court that the offences were both serious and prevalent. Mdletshe was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, with the court declaring him unfit to possess a firearm.
This conviction underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring justice for victims of crime and their families. We commend the prosecution team and law enforcement for their relentless pursuit of justice, and we hope this outcome brings some closure to the family of the victim.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
071 6700 229