The Durban High Court has on Thursday sentenced three men who killed a community leader for investigating the illegal selling of vacant plots in their area. Felokwakhe Ndlovu (53), Nkosiyanda Ndlovu (30) and Nkosinathi Mbambo (30) were sentenced to various terms of direct imprisonment for the murder of Thulani Lawrence Nxumalo from  KwaNdengezi township outside Durban in KwaZulu Natal (KZN). 

THE CHARGES 

The three were convicted for conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Nxumalo was the ANC KwaNdengezi Branch executive committee member and Felokwakhe was a local Induna. In a statement, NPA spokesperson in KwaZulu Natal,Natasha Kara, said before the incident in September 2018, there were allegations that Felokwakhe was selling plots in the area for his benefit. When Nxumalo began investigating these allegations, Felokwakhe enlisted the assistance of his co-accused, and they hatched a plan to kill him.  

AMBUSHED NEAR HIS HOME 

Kara said on the day of the incident, Nxumalo was returning home from a committee meeting while his killers waited for him nearby. Kara added that as Nxumalo approached his home, the men ambushed him and shot him several times on his neck, chest, and head before fleeing the scene. "They were arrested two months later after the police acted on information from their informers. In court, the state represented by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Lawrence Gcaba, Senior State Advocate Elvis Gcweka and State Advocate Nhlanhla Shange led the testimonies of witnesses as well as that of Nxumalo's wife, an investigation officer who attended the scene," Kara said. The state also submitted a victim impact statement compiled by Nxumalo's wife and facilitated by court preparation officer Thandeka Nadi Mofokeng. In her statement. Nxumalo's widow said he was a good and kind person who served the community with pride and respect. She said that she was not coping well following the incident. At some stage she even abandoned her home and lived on the streets and in the wilderness, fearing that the gunmen would return to kill her.  

HEAVY SENTENCES  

Kara said Felokwakhe and Mbambo were sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder, life imprisonment for murder, 15 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm, and five years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. "Nkosiyanda was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder, 20 years imprisonment for murder, 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm, and five years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition," Kara said.