8 X LIFE AND 15 YEARS FOR GLEBELANDS HOSTEL MURDERS

18 JUNE 2025

8 X LIFE AND 15 YEARS FOR GLEBELANDS HOSTEL MURDERS

The Durban High Court has sentenced five men, namely Bongile Mabele, Siyathemba Mthwana, Nkosayikhethi Njeya, Bongani Mboyiyana, and Sibusiso Mkhonde, to eight life terms and 15 years imprisonment each following their conviction on eight counts of murder, and joint possession of a prohibited firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The offences took place on 03 June 2023 at the Glebelands Men’s Hostel in Umlazi, where Phakamani Lukhozi, Thamsanqa Shongwe, Mpilo Khumalo, Bongani Mkane, Lungani Sikhobi, Yandisa Msungubali, Nkululeko Lukhozi, and Mxolisi Mthethwa were murdered.

The accused and the deceased resided at the hostel. The accused were friends with each other, and all the deceased were known to each other. Mabele was the block chairperson for some of the blocks at the hostel, and he oversaw the daily operations and allocation of accommodation for those blocks. Sometimes, his co-accused assisted him in executing his duties.

Phakamani Lukhozi (Phakamani) oversaw the daily operations and accommodation of some other blocks at the hostel. These blocks were not controlled by Mabele. Mabele was not on good terms with Phakamani because he (Phakamani) refused to relinquish control of his blocks and submit to the leadership of Mabele. Mabele then decided to kill Phakamani.

Together with his co-accused, they planned to shoot and kill Phakamani and his friends.

In the early hours of 03 June 2023, Phakamani and the others were socialising in a room at the hostel. The accused armed themselves with firearms and proceeded to that room. Some of them kept guard at the hostel gate, some stayed outside the room, and others went into the room where they began shooting at the occupants. The eight men were fatally wounded and died at the scene. The postmortem results indicated multiple gunshot wounds.

In court, Advocate Rakesh Singh led the evidence of a Section 204 witness. The state also handed in Victim Impact Statements (VIS) compiled by two men who were present on the day of the incident. Court Preparation Officer Thandeka Nadi Mofokeng facilitated these VIS. In his statement, the man said that he had been left traumatised from seeing so many dead bodies lying all around him. He said that he had come to Durban in search of a better life but has since left the province. The other said that the incident has brought him pain and misery.

Each of the men was sentenced to eight terms of life imprisonment for the murders, 10 years imprisonment for possession of a prohibited firearm, and five years’ imprisonment for the unlawful possession of ammunition. They will effectively serve of life imprisonment.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter. The accused in this matter carried out the offences callously and brutally, displaying no regard for the lives of others. We hope that the sentences imposed here serve as a deterrent to like-minded individuals.
 

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara
NPA Regional Spokesperson
KZN Division
0716700229