An inkaba from Nkadla, KwaZulu Natal has been sentenced to five life terms and an additional 65 years in prison by the Pretoria High Court for killing five people in two different incidents on the same day. Mjabuliseni Linda Luthuli (36) was sentenced to five life terms for five counts of murder, 20 years imprisonment for two counts of attempted murder, and 45 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic firearm, unlawful possession of a fully automatic firearm as well as unlawful possession of ammunition. 

TAXI VIOLENCE

 The court heard that on 02 December 2019, Ndifelani Morris Matomela, Emmanuel Samuel Vukeya, and Bonginkosi Mishack Sithole (deceased) were taxi operators of the Pretoria, Randburg, Soshanguve (PRS) Taxi Association. The deceased were in a taxi parked next to the road in Wierdabrug when a white Mercedes Benz sedan stopped. Three armed males including Luthuli, came out of the car and started shooting at the taxi, and drove off to Olievenhoutbosch taxi rank. It is said that when Luthuli and others got to that rank, they came out of the car and started shooting again. "Two passengers Kedibone Nkosi and Sello Douglas Ramaite were shot dead while two bystanders were injured.  Four of the deceased died on the scene while one died on arrival in hospital due to gunshot wounds," said state prosecutor Advocate Molatlhwa Mashuga. Luthuli was arrested in the hospital the same day, after he was admitted for gunshot wounds. 

CONFESSING TO BEING A HITMAN

 Luthuli confessed to the police that he was hired by the Alexandra Randburg Midrand Taxi Association (ARMSTA), to kill the deceased in return to receive a payment of R150 000 upon completion of the job. In court, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied committing the offences, and asked the court to consider the three years he spent in prison awaiting trial when imposing a sentence.  However, the state was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and lead evidence that Luthului was indeed a hitman hired by the ARMS taxi association to kill members of the PRS taxi association. 

 A LIFE FOR MONEY

In aggravation, Advocate Mashuga told the court that Luthuli had no regard for the sanctity of the life of other human beings. "He killed people without any provocation but simply for monetary gains. I asked the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment.  The judge agreed that a sentence of life imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence because Luthuli committed serious offences and showed no remorse for his actions.  One of the victims is still suffering from the consequences of the shooting. Therefore, being a first-time offender will not help him."