Life And 20 Years Imprisonment For Robbery And Murder Of Elderly Man

The Umlazi Regional Court, sentenced Lungile Qoza and Ntombikayise Khambule, to life and 20 years imprisonment for July 2020 murder, of an 81-year-old man in the Engoyameni area, near Umlazi. Qoza worked for the victim, Mohammed Salajee, who hailed from the Chatsworth area. On the day of the incident, he left his home with R150000, intended to pay for a property he planned to purchase. Qoza knew about this, and colluded with Khambule and a hitman, to rob him of the money.

They robbed him of the money, and put him into the trunk of his car, with his feet and hands tightened with shoelaces. They drove to Umlazi, where the vehicle stalled on a gravel road. The hitman then shot Salajee twice in the face before they all fled on foot.

Three months later, Khambule was arrested, after Police found her in possession of Salajee’s ID book. Qoza was subsequently arrested, while the hitman died a month after the incident. In court, Regional Court Prosecutor Chantal Bisumber used the evidence from an ID parade to place the women at the scene of the crime. Bisumber also handed in a Victim Impact Statement, compiled by Salajee’s daughter, and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Thuli Sontsele.

In her statement, the woman described her father as a kind and generous person. She said that she missed him and that she could not come to terms with the gruesome way in which he died. The NPA acknowledges the successful finalisation of this matter, and we commend the work done by the Prosecution and Investigating team. We hope this sentence will have the necessary deterrent effect

Note: The NPA’s media statements are available on the website: www.npa.gov.za

Issued by

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KZN Division

Enquiries: nramkisson@npa.gov.za / 0716700229

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