The KwaZulu-Natal Community Policing Forum (CPF) has welcomed the sentencing of a man linked to last year’s deadly mass shooting in Umlazi, describing it as an important step towards justice for the victims and their families.
Twenty-eight-year-old Sanele Dlamini was sentenced last Thursday to two life terms imprisonment, along with an additional 30 years behind bars, for his role in the attack that claimed multiple lives.
The shooting took place in May last year in Umlazi's U-Section, south of Durban, when gunmen ambushed a group of people who were socialising at a home and opened fire on them.
Eight people were killed in the attack, while four others sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
Despite Dlamini's conviction and sentencing, police investigations remain ongoing as authorities continue searching for other suspects believed to have been involved in the massacre.
KZN CPF spokesperson Siyanda Biyela said the sentence would provide some comfort to the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy. He added that some of the victims had been actively involved in community patrols and crime prevention initiatives in the area.
Biyela emphasised the crucial role communities play in assisting law enforcement and said stronger cooperation between residents, local CPFs and police could help bring the remaining suspects to justice.
"The information received from the community led investigators to this particular suspect," Biyela said.
"The community has an integral role to play in crime prevention and crime reporting. Residents are often the first to know where crimes have occurred and who may be involved. That information allows police to investigate, gather evidence and build strong cases against suspects."
According to KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, detectives from the Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit took over the investigation and identified Dlamini as one of the suspects.
"Dlamini was traced and arrested following intensive investigations," Netshiunda said.
He explained that due to legal and evidentiary challenges during the trial, Dlamini was ultimately convicted on two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the whereabouts of the outstanding suspects to come forward as efforts continue to secure further arrests in the case.