Wrong man killed in case of mistaken identity; cousins jailed for life
According to evidence presented in court, the pair travelled to Himeville in search of a person they intended to kill.
Two cousins who travelled to southern KwaZulu-Natal to carry out a murder but ended up killing the wrong man have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said cousins Mthokozisi Ngwane (34) and Sanele Mqondisi Ngwane (37) were convicted of murder, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition.
The murder took place in the Himeville area on February 2, 2023.
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According to evidence presented in court, the pair travelled to Himeville in search of a person they intended to kill.
However, in a case of mistaken identity, they fatally shot Nduduzo Ndlovu instead.
The accused fled the scene after the shooting, but witnesses recorded the registration number of the vehicle they were using and passed the information on to police.
The information led investigators to the suspects, who were later arrested.
Police recovered two firearms during the arrests. Ballistic testing subsequently linked one of the firearms to Ndlovu’s murder.
During the trial, state advocate Nkosinathi Mhlambo led evidence from the witness who recorded the vehicle’s registration number.
The State also submitted a victim impact statement compiled by a family member of the deceased and facilitated by court preparation officer Mbalenhle Valencia Komane.
The statement detailed the devastating impact of Ndlovu’s death on his family, the role he played within the family structure, and the emotional trauma they continue to endure.
The court sentenced each accused to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years’ imprisonment on each of the two firearm possession charges, and additional prison terms for the ammunition offences.
The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment for each accused.
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The court also declared both men unfit to possess firearms.
NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the sentence demonstrated the justice system’s commitment to holding perpetrators of violent crime accountable.
“The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that perpetrators of violent crime are held accountable for their actions,” she said.
