DURBAN On 12 November 2018 at 10:50, the body of a man was found along the old Iscor Road near a farm at Utrecht severely burnt. His legs and hands were tied up as well as his mouth was gagged. Investigations began and the deceased was later identified as Nhlonipho Edgar Madinane (34). A team of detectives from Utrecht SAPS as well as the Amajuba Task Team identified the perpetrators involved and three accused were arrested in the Madadeni and Utrecht area.

It was then established that the deceased was in a relationship with one of the accused’s girlfriend. During the course of the investigation it was established that the deceased was drinking together with some friends around Madadeni to Utrecht area using the old Iscor Road when they turned against Madinane and strangled him. They drove to a farm where they met another accused.

They tied him up using a hose pipe and curtains to gag his mouth. They drove to a service station in Utrecht where they bought petrol using the deceased cash and drove back to the farm where they set him alight. They robbed him of his vehicle and other items such as laptop, tablet, cell phone and money. The accused sold the cell phones and took the vehicle to Vlakfontein where it was sold to an unknown male. The post mortem established that the deceased was still alive when he was burnt. The matter was finalised in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 14 February 2020 where the accused were sentenced as follows:

Sphamandla Nelson Nxumalo (29) was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for murder and 12 years imprisonment on a count for robbery. Lindokuhle Jonas Nkosi (22) and Andile Mzala Dlamini (27) were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years imprisonment for robbery. The sentences will run concurrently.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula praised the investigative team for the sterling investigation which led to the case being solved.

Source: South African Police Service