Justice served: Two men sentenced to life for brutal murders in northern KwaZulu-Natal

Siphesihle Buthelezi|Published

Two men from KwaZulu-Natal face double life sentences for brutal murders that took place in 2023 and 2024.

Image: File

The Ngwelezane Regional Court has sentenced two men to double life imprisonment for separate murders committed a year apart in the Empangeni Rail area.

Vumani China Nxumalo, 36, and Mduduzi Zulu, 34, were each handed two terms of life imprisonment for the killings of Njabulo Ndlovu in January 2023 and Senzo Mwandla in January 2024.

Zulu received an additional six-month sentence for assaulting a police officer.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the first incident occurred on January 29, 2023, when Ndlovu, 32, was outside a tavern with friends.

Nxumalo, armed with a knife, confronted him, and Zulu soon joined in. A security guard attempted to intervene but was unsuccessful.

“Ndlovu then ran away and both Nxumalo and Zulu chased him. Ndlovu’s friends tried to look for him, but they were unsuccessful, and they reported the matter to the police. Ndlovu’s body was found two days later in some bushes; he had sustained multiple injuries,” said NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.

Nearly a year later, on 16 January 2024, Mwandla was attacked while sitting in his car outside another tavern in the same area.

“Both men were armed with knives and Mwandla was stabbed several times. They also ransacked Mwandla’s car, taking his wallet and cellphone,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

Police later arrested the pair after receiving a tip-off. During the arrest, Zulu attempted to stab an officer, which resulted in an additional assault charge.

In court, prosecutor Mpumelelo Mlambo presented evidence from a security guard who saw the accused return to the tavern wearing blood-stained clothes after the altercation with Ndlovu.

Other eyewitnesses also testified. Mlambo further submitted Victim Impact Statements (VIS) prepared by the families of the deceased, facilitated by court preparation officer Seneliso Sibanda.

“In their statement, the families mentioned how the crimes had affected their lives,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

Nxumalo and Zulu were each sentenced to life imprisonment for the two murders, while Zulu’s six-month assault sentence will run separately. The court also declared both men unfit to possess firearms.

Welcoming the outcome, Ramkisson-Kara said: “The NPA remains resolute in our pursuit of justice on behalf of the victims of crime and their families.”

THE MERCURY