Life Imprisonment for Murderer
03 APRIL 2025
Life Imprisonment for Murderer
The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced Sifundo Raphael Ngubane (48) to life imprisonment for the murder of a woman, Celani Nokuthula Mdluli (47) in November 2021 in KwaNyavu, Camperdown. Both Ngubane and Mdluli lived in KwaNyavu, and during November 2021 there was ongoing tension between the various political groups in the area.
One group, including Ngubane, decided that no one in the community was allowed to vote in the local elections that were to be held on 01 November 2021. A message circulating in that community stated that anyone who dared vote would face dire consequences. Mdluli who was an active member of the community had volunteered at her local voting station. She and others in the community wanted to cast their votes, despite the threat. On 01November 2021 Mdluli and other community members went ahead and cast their votes.
Ngubane and others who acted with him believed that Mdluli had encouraged others to vote, and had opened the gates to the voting station. On 02 November 2021, Ngubane and his co-accused (who is now deceased) decided to kill Mdluli for acting against their wishes. They armed themselves with firearms and drove to her house. They found Mdluli asleep in her home and fired shots at her, fatally wounding her. Ngubane used his licensed firearm to commit the offence. They fled the scene but were arrested in February 2022, following an anonymous tip-off and police investigations.
In court, Advocate Alex Moolman led ballistic evidence, linking Ngubane to the crime. Ngubane who had initially confessed to a Magistrate, later retracted his statement, claiming police coercion. However, the court rejected his claims and his confession was admitted.
During sentencing, the court considered a Victim Impact Statement facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nokuvela Mlotshwa, detailing the devastating impact of the crime on Mdluli’s family. In addition to the life sentence, Ngubane was deemed unfit to possess a firearm, and the court ordered that his firearm be forfeited to the state.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes this successful prosecution. Acts of political intolerance and gender-based violence will not be tolerated by the courts. We hope that sentences of this nature have the necessary deterrent effect.
Issued by:
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
0716700229