LIFE AND 73 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER AND ROBBERY

25 NOVEMBER 2025

LIFE AND 73 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER AND ROBBERY

The Ulundi Regional Court has sentenced Bheki Khehla Mdakane (42) to life and 73 years imprisonment for the string of offences he committed in March and April 2023. The offences include two counts of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault GBH, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

In the first instance, on 23 March 2023, Mdakane and his companions took a metered taxi to a tavern in the Ulundi area. There they met the deceased, Senzo Dlamini and his companions. Mdakane and his companions requested to sit with Dlamini and his companions; however, they sat separately. When the two groups had finished consuming alcohol, Mdakane (and his companions) offered Dlamini and his companions a lift in the metered taxi to another area. En route, an altercation broke out, which resulted in the assault, GBH and attempted murder of one of Dlamini’s companions. Dlamini was kidnapped, robbed, and murdered.

Then, on 01 April 2023, Mdakane was drinking at another tavern with a companion when he got into an argument with Brutus Seyama. Mdakane then drew a firearm and shot Seyama, who died on the spot. Mdakane fled the scene and was arrested two days later when the police acted on a tip-off they received from an informer. Upon his arrest, Mdakane was found in unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition. One of Mdakane’s companions has since died, while the other is still at large.

In the state’s case, prosecutor Xolani Bhekisisa Ndlela led the evidence of eight witnesses. In aggravation of the sentence, Ndlela led the testimony of Dlamini’s relative, who said that Dlamini was studying chemical engineering at a TVET college in Nongoma. He was doing very well academically, and his family had high hopes for him. Mdakane was sentenced accordingly, with the court declaring him unfit to possess a firearm. The NPA hopes that this sentence demonstrates the NPA’s commitment to pursuing justice on behalf of the victim of crime and their families.

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KZN Division

071 6700 229