LIFE AND 40 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER AND ROBBERY
31 October 2025
LIFE AND 40 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER AND ROBBERY
The Durban High Court has sentenced Siphamandla Gumede (31) to five life terms and 40 years imprisonment for the murders, attempted murder, and robbery he committed in Umlazi in November 2023. Gumede lived in the same area as the deceased. Sometime before the incident, Gumede and other assailants (unknown to the state) conspired to rob and kill the deceased. The deceased in this matter are Nontlomelo Golumbiza, Nandipha Ndabeni, Nkosinathi Phutheni, Cebolenkosi Zwane and Mbongeni Nkwanyana. The complainant in the attempted murder charge is Ntobeko Mantengu.
On the evening of 13 November 2023, Gumede and the others armed themselves with firearms and went to the house where Golumbiza and Ndabeni lived and operated a spaza shop. Phutheni was visiting them when the incident occurred. Gumede and the others fired several shots at them and stole items such as a TV and cellphones. Golumbiza, Ndabeni and Putheni died at the scene. Gumede and the others then left the scene and went to a nearby house, where Zwane and Nkwanyana were. They fired several shots at Zwane and Nkwanyana, killing them instantly. Thereafter, Gumede and the others went to Mantengu’s house and shot him, stealing his phone before fleeing. Mantengu was injured and rushed to the hospital for treatment. Gumede was arrested while awaiting trial for an unrelated matter.
In court, Prosecutor Gugu Xulu led eyewitness testimonies, ballistic evidence, and the evidence of the SAPS officials. In aggravation of sentence, Ms Xulu handed in Victim Impact Statements (VIS) compiled by family members of the deceased and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Thandeka Nadi Mofokeng. All the statements detailed the loss felt by the various family members. They said that they are struggling to cope. Gumede was sentenced to life imprisonment for each of the five counts of murder, 10 years imprisonment for the attempted murder, and 15 years imprisonment on each of the two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. The sentences will run concurrently. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Following the sentencing proceedings, Gumede made an application for leave to appeal both conviction and sentence. This was dismissed by the court.
The NPA welcomes the conviction and sentence. We remain resolute in our pursuit of justice on behalf of the victims of crime and their families. We hope that sentences of this nature serve as a deterrent to like-minded people.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
071 6700 229