3 brothers sentenced to life for KZN murder

The Ezakheni Regional Court has sentenced three brothers – Zenzele Vincent Zwane (29), Mthandeni Zwane (23) and Lindani Zwane (31) – to life imprisonment each for a murder they committed in September 2022 in Emcitsheni, KZN.

On the day of the incident, Zenzele was informed by their sister that the man they would later kill, Simphiwe Innocent Zondo (24), had stolen from their home. She further said she saw Zondo carrying the stolen goods.

Thereafter, Zenzele and his brothers, Mthandeni and Lindani, went in search of Zondo. They found him and took him to his house to look for the stolen items. Zondo’s family members were in the house. When they did not find the stolen goods, the brothers took Zondo back to their home, where they beat him with a sjambok and other items. They did this in the presence of their sister.

The following day, Zondo was found dead about 200m away from the Zwane home. The cause of death was a head injury, as well as injuries caused by a sjambok.

The brothers fled the area and were arrested six months later after police traced them.

In court, Prosecutor Zandile Nhlapho-Mthembu led the testimony of Zwane’s sister, as well as the testimonies of various members of the deceased’s family. The state relied on circumstantial evidence. In addition, Nhlapho-Mthembu handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by Zondo’s family and facilitated by court preparation officer Khulekani Professor Mthembu. In their statement, the family said that Zondo was a helpful and caring person who helped his ailing grandmother.

The brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment each, and the court declared them unfit to possess a firearm.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the successful finalisation of the matter and commended the work done by the prosecution and police. It also discouraged members of the public from taking the law into their own hands.