Life behind bars for KZN hitmen

Two hitmen were last Friday sentenced to two life terms each in prison for murder and a further 14 years for attempted murder.

Their sentence was handed down by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

Makhimba Buthelezi (33) and Thabani Ngwenya (36) were found guilty of killing Mzokhona Dlame (47) in Nongoma on 19 December 2016.

Buthelezi was also sentenced to a further 15 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm, and two years for possession of ammunition.

All sentences will run concurrently.

The pair was also found guilty of murdering Mthuthuzeli Mchunu (66) on 17 October 2017.

The court heard that while Mchunu was standing next to his vehicle near Nongoma petrol station, two gunmen emerged and opened fire on him.

He was shot in the head and chest, and succumbed to his gunshot wounds on arrival at the hospital.

He was chairperson of the Nongoma Taxi Association at the time of his death.

During the shooting, a bystander was caught in the crossfire and shot in the leg, and was also taken to hospital.

The court heard that Dlame was shot and killed at his homestead shortly after a traditional ceremony.

Two armed men showed up at his homestead and fired shots at him.

He sustained gunshot wounds to the head, neck and thigh, and was declared dead on scene.

Charges of murder and attempted murder were opened for investigation at Nongoma Saps.

Police arrested Buthelezi in August 2018 at Maphophoma area in Nongoma.

He was found in possession of a firearm with nine rounds of ammunition.

Ngwenya was arrested in Gauteng while in court for unlawful possession of a firearm.

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