Durban — Sentencing proceedings began earlier in the Scottburgh High Court where Thulani Themba Nhlumayo was convicted of five counts of murder and four attempted murders relating to a 2018 tavern shooting and robbery.
Nhlumayo who has previous convictions of a similar nature where he was handed eight life sentences for the 1998 murder of eight people on Christmas Day had been out on a presidential pardon when he committed the 2018 murders. It's believed he served 15 years before being released.
Before addressing on sentence, Nhlumayo’s defence attorney Phakamisani Mbambi called the accused onto the stand to paint a picture of his exceptional circumstances.
In relation to his previous conviction, he told the court that the 1998 shooting had been revenge on the ANC for an IFP leader that was killed.
He alleged that when he was released from jail in 2017 he was attacked and shot at and when he went to report the incident to police, he was told they would not help an IFP member. He also alleges that a month before this his tuckshop was broken into.
In the murders that he was charged with and will be sentenced for on Thursday in court, on April 1, 2018, the complainants in the attempted murder counts were walking home from Khowa’s Tavern in Port Shepstone when they were confronted by Nhlumayo and other assailants who blocked them from proceeding on their way. One of the assailants fired a shot that struck Duncan Sydney Shusha in the leg and his companions ran back to the tavern following the shot.
The assailants followed the men to the tavern but were confronted and chased away.
When the assailants returned they were armed with handguns and fired shots at people in the tavern.
Khulebone Nhlumayo was struck in the chest while Nhlakanipho Bryan Gumede was hit in the leg injuring them both, while the deceased died on the scene as a result of a gunshot wound to the head.
On April 16, Nhlumayo and one Sanele Nhlumayo conspired to rob patrons at Mama’s Tavern in Margate. Outside the tavern the accused shot Njabulo Handsome Ndovela thereafter ordering other patrons to lie on the ground.
Once inside the tavern, they demanded money from Zane Phehlukwayo who handed it over to the accused. During the robbery several shots were fired by Nhlumayo which struck and killed Phehlukwayo and Andile Professor Khowa.
Nhlumayo was arrested the following day and found in possession of unlawful possession of a firearm (a Norinco semi-automatic pistol) and ammunition (11 rounds of 9mm ammunition).
Judge Kate Pillay will be sentencing Nhlumayo.
Daily News