The Eastern Cape Division, Mthatha, sitting in Mbizana, sentenced three men to four life imprisonment terms and an additional 60 years.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Luxolo Tyhali, said Siphiwe Jula (35), Msizi Mncwane (34) and Zamuxolo Shusha (25) were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the four counts of murder, 20 years for each of the two counts of attempted murder and 20 years for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
He said the court ordered that the four life terms run concurrently.
According to Tyhali, on November 13, 2019, the three men shot and killed Bulelani Miya, Mongezi Msoni, Inga Nzimakhwe and Amahle Sophila at Plangeni village, near Mzamba, in the district of Mbizana.
“The deceased were aged between 22 and 30. Other victims, Phakamani Msomi and Sinawo Miya, survived the attack, but were both left paralised after sustaining no fewer than eight gunshot wounds each,” said Tyhali.
He added that the evidence presented in court was that Jula was involved in the illegal business of dealing in drugs in Mzamba and Port Edward. Mncwane and Shusha were selling drugs on his behalf. Tyhali said during October 2019, Jula gave Miya, one of the deceased, drugs to sell on his behalf.
It is alleged that after selling the drugs, Miya did not give Jula the money from the sales.
According to Tyhali, Jula, with the assistance of his two accomplices, hunted down Miya, and found him in the company of the three deceased and the two surviving men.
“They kicked the door down and shot indiscriminately at the six men, before fleeing in a motor vehicle. A witness from the neighbourhood managed to take down the registration number of the vehicle which had sped off after the shooting. Police found more than 30 spent bullet cartridges at the scene. The vehicle was traced and found in the possession of its owner, who was Jula’s girlfriend at the time.”
She testified in court that she had lent the vehicle to Jula on the day in question. They pleaded not guilty and claimed to have alibis but State Advocate, Mkhuseli Ntaba, managed to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt that they were guilty as charged.
“Judge Richard Brooks agreed with Ntaba that the only fitting sentence for the crimes was a lengthy jail term. After sentencing, the trio made an application for leave to appeal, which Ntaba successfully opposed.”
