LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDERERS
25 JUNE 2025
LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDERERS
The Durban High Court has sentenced Siphamandla Makhanya (39) and Mxolisi Percy Hadebe (40) to life imprisonment for the murder they committed on 12 January 2021 in the Cornubia area.
The deceased, Siduduzo Innocent Magwaza (45) was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and was nominated to become the chairperson of the organisation in Ward 102 in the upcoming elections at that time. Magwaza and Hadebe were known to each other, and they were members of the project steering committee which dealt with tender projects in the area.
Magwaza was instrumental in the allocation of tender projects in Ward 102, and being the chairperson of the Ward would further give him authority to the allocation and distribution of tender projects. At the time of the incident Hadebe didn’t have any operational projects, and he therefore had no income. On 29 December 2020, Makhanya arrived in the Cornubia area. On a few occasions thereafter, he was overheard telling people that he was there to kill a politician. Whenever he said this in Hadebe’s presence, Hadebe would take him aside and reprimand him.
On 12 January 2021 Hadebe spent most of the day with Magwaza. At some stage he drove him to a meeting and then dropped him at a friend’s house thereafter. Later that evening Hadebe drove Makhanya to the vicinity of Magwaza’s house. Magwaza walked home from his friend’s house and entered the kitchen of his home. He was shot by Makhanya through the security gate at the kitchen door. Magwaza sustained several gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital where he later died. Makhanya and Hadebe were subsequently arrested.
In the state’s case, Advocate Elvis Gcweka led the evidence of cellphone records and the findings of the identity parade (wherein Makhanya was identified by witnesses). Sixteen witnesses testified on behalf of the state, including Magwaza’s relatives and neighbours; and members of the Political Killings Task Team. Further, Advocate Gcweka told the court the murder was meticulously planned. He said that Magwaza was a valued and prominent member of his community who was killed in a brutal and inhumane manner.
In aggravation of sentence, Advocate Gcweka handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by Magwaza’s relative and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Thandeka Nadi Mofokeng. In her statement the woman mentioned that their entire family relied on Magwaza. He was a kind and generous person who had a vested interest in his family and the community. She mentioned that it was disturbing to learn that Hadebe who was a trusted friend of Magwaza was instrumental in his killing.
In addition to the life sentence, the men were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence, and we commend the successful partnership between the Prosecution, the Political Killings Task Team in KZN and other stakeholders. We trust that sentences of this nature will deter like-minded individuals
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
0716700229