Robbers Get Life Terms And 10 Years Imprisonment

The Mtunzini Circuit Court has sentenced Phumlani Mjaza, Musa Nelson Phahla and Sabelo Enoch Mdletshe, to life and 10 years imprisonment, following their conviction on robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder. Mjaza was sentenced to a further 10 years imprisonment for the unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm. The men knew that the victim, Nduduzo Ntuli, owned a minibus taxi, which he used to transport school children. Ntuli used the vehicle for this sole purpose and did not belong to any taxi association. In June 2020, while Ntuli was parking the vehicle at his home, in the Ndaba area of Maphumulo, where he was accosted by the three men.

They shot him in the head and then tried to remove his body from the vehicle so that they could drive it away. Family members inside the house heard the noise and went outside to see what was happening. Mjaza was caught by the family and dispossessed of the firearm, while Phahla and Mdletshe fled the scene. Mdletshe was easily identified and thus arrested as he was a relative of Ntuli. Phahla was arrested after Police received information on his whereabouts.

In court State Adv. Dan Magwaza, used evidence from an identity parade, to positively link the men to the crime. Magwaza also handed in a Victim Impact Statement, compiled by Ntuli’s father and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nombulelo Mzimela. In his statement, the father said that Ntuli was a good and hardworking person and the breadwinner for their family. He said that the murder has left his family broken and they did not know how to move on. The men will serve a term of life imprisonment, as the Court ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

The NPA applauds the successful prosecution, and we commend the work done by the Prosecution and Police.

Issued by

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KZN Division

Enquiries: nramkisson@npa.gov.za / 0716700229