THE Mtubatuba High Court convicted and sentenced Joshua Hlongwane (53), Mzwakhe Thuthukani Gumede (30) and Mkhulu Gilbert Chauque (38) to life imprisonment for murder, 10 years for two attempted murders, five years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and three years imprisonment for possession of illegal ammunition.
The charges arise from an incident on 19 October 2011 in the Siphambanweni area outside Nongoma.
A Meyama High School teacher Enock Nkosi (50) was found dead in his Nissan bakkie with two gunshot wounds in his right arm and eye.
It is alleged that Nkosi was on his way home when the occupants in a silver Opel Astra opened fire on his vehicle, fatally wounding him.
Through investigation by Ulundi Tactical Response Team it was established that his colleague Joshua Hlongwane had hired two hit men to kill him after an argument they had had at school.
The three suspects were arrested and charged for his murder.
The task force members searched the vehicle and found a P38 revolver special with live rounds and an air rifle underneath the left seat of the vehicle.
The revolver was found to belong to Hlongwane.
The suspects appeared in court several times and were denied bail until they were all convicted and sentenced on Friday.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the sentence handed down to the ruthless killers and commended the members for hard work and excellent investigation that led to the conviction and sentencing of the accused.
