A MAN who shot and killed his co-worker, a mother of two, after being reprimanded for returning to work late from his lunch break almost two years ago was yesterday sentenced to life in prison by the High Court in Durban.
According to KZN’s National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA) spokesperson, Natasha Kara, Sphelele Msletshe was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his supervisor at the King Shaka International Airport in March 2018.
Shooting
“Mdletshe and the deceased, Zandile Cornelia Mkhize, worked as security officers for an airport-based security company. On the day of the offence, he was late to return from his break. Mkhize contacted their manager and reported this,” said Kara.
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“When he returned to his post, he was requested to go home and come back the next day to discuss the issue. This angered him. He went home, fetched his personal firearm and returned to work. Knowing that Mkhize had finished her shift, he went to the area where she waited for her transport and shot her several times. Mdletshe fired 14 shots, emptying the firearm cartridge, with 11 of these shots striking her. He then walked to the police station and handed over his firearm,” she continued.
Kara said during the trial Msletshe claimed he hadn’t handed over the firearm but that it had been confiscated by police later.
Kara said the case included video evidence which left no doubt that the accused shot the deceased.
“State Advocate, Khatija Essack led video footage from a camera fixed in the area where Mkhize was shot. This clearly showed Mdletshe as the shooter. Advocate Essack also led ballistic evidence linking his firearm to the killing,” she explained.
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Kara said the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Advocate Elaine Zungu had welcomed the sentence and conviction in this matter describing the accused’s actions as “senseless and unwarranted” and had congratulated Essack on securing the conviction.
Son’s victim statement
In aggravation of sentence, a victim impact statement compiled by the deceased’s son and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Nadi Ngcobo was submitted to the court.
“In the statement, the 23-year-old mentions that his mother’s death was traumatic for him and his seven year-old sister. He said their mother was a single parent and the breadwinner in their home. He said that his dream to work and take care of his mother would never be fulfilled,” said Kara.
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