ACTING Provincial Police Commissioner for KZN, Maj Gen Bheki Langa, has welcomed the sentences handed down to three men responsible for a massacre in Ceza in 2016.
The Provincial Organised Crime Unit was also praised for their efforts in ensuring that overwhelming evidence was presented to the court, which led to the conviction of the accused.
Last Friday the Pongola Regional Court convicted and sentenced Ayanda Khumalo (25) and Siyabonga Buthelezi (34) to five terms of life imprisonment each on five counts of murder.
They were also sentenced to an additional 10 years imprisonment for attempted murder, five years for arson and a further 15 years for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The third accused, Siyabonga ‘Gwinya’ Xulu (32), was found not guilty for the murders and arson, but convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm and three years for possession of ammunition.
The case arises from an incident in April 2016 when Khululiwe Buthelezi (35), Mpandlana Zondo and his wife Philisiwe Zondo, as well as their two grandchildren, Vangeli Zondo (2) and Simphiwe Zondo (4), were attacked by the accused in their home in the Empakelweni area near Ceza.
The attackers set their home alight after the attack.
Five victims died on the scene, whilst a sixth survived with gunshot wounds.
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