Three men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a security guard in Emanguzi, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that Mario Sithole (33), Zakhele Khathwayo (31), and Skhumbuzo Hadebe (20) were convicted for the fatal shooting of a 47-year-old security guard in November 2022. The trio also stole the victim’s firearm following the हत्या.
National SAPS spokesperson Amanda van Wyk said the men were sentenced in the Mtubatuba Regional Court.
In addition to life sentences, each of the accused received a further 30 years’ imprisonment for a separate house robbery in which they stole R100,000.
Van Wyk said a specialised national task team targeting cross-border crime in northern KwaZulu-Natal played a critical role in linking the suspects to the offences.
“The team meticulously pieced together all available leads, resulting in the arrest of four suspects, one of whom later turned state witness. Bail applications were successfully opposed, and the accused remained in custody until sentencing,” she said.
She added that in the past three months alone, the task team has arrested 17 suspects for various crimes, seized seven illegal firearms, and recovered 16 vehicles.
Authorities say the intervention forms part of a broader strategy to combat cross-border criminal activities in the region, including murder, attempted murder, vehicle theft and hijackings, as well as house and business robberies.