The Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed an acquittal application filed by the murder accused sons of former mayor Vincent Madlala and their two friends.
Image: Nomonde Zondi
The Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday morning dismissed an application for acquittal lodged by the sons of former Alfred Duma Municipality mayor Vincent Madlala and their two friends in a triple murder case.
The accused, Sandile Sbonelo Madlala, Sabelo Madlala, Lethukuthula Khumalo, and Thabiso Cedric Nkosi, face charges including three counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, defeating the administration of justice, and unlawful possession of automatic rifles, ammunition, and other firearms.
The charges stem from the alleged assassinations of Mxolisi ‘Ncedo’ Dladla, Dladla’s girlfriend Nompumelelo Thwala, and Nhlanhla Fortune Zulu in August 2020. Dladla, the friend of the accused, had reportedly lived with the former mayor’s family for years and allegedly knew what was happening in and around the life of the former mayor and his family.
Moreover, Dladla had initially purchased a VW Polo but subsequently lost his job, leaving him unable to make a payment installment. The Madlala brothers stepped in and took over the payments.
Former ANC mayor Vincent Madlala of Alfred Duma Municipality also appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court for unlawful possession of six firearms.
Image: Supplied
However, after Dladla secured a position in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), he planned to reclaim his car. It is alleged that the brothers were unwilling to relinquish the vehicle.
After the accused are alleged to have gunned down the trio, they staged a scene: “The accused planned and executed the killing of the deceased and thereafter created the scene to appear as if they were victims of the shooting,” read the indictment.
According to the indictment, at the time, it looked like the sons of the former mayor were the targets.
In their statements to Ezakheni police, the accused allegedly implicated specific individuals, claiming the shooters were in a Toyota Etios and opened fire on them while they were travelling in the Polo and towing a non-functional BMW.
They allegedly identified the shooters in the local police and the types of firearms used in the shooting.
However, the case took a turn when the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) took over the docket. The accused’s version of events was contradicted during a scene reconstruction involving experts, including the Ballistic Section of the Forensic Science Laboratory.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Lawrence Gcaba presented expert testimony during the trial, indicating that the shooting could not have happened as described by the accused.
The location of spent cartridges suggested the shooters were stationary and standing in different directions, ruling out a drive-by shooting for the victims’ deaths.
Furthermore, five State witnesses testified that on the day of the incident, the accused parked the BMW at an electronics company and left on foot. Gunshots were heard from the direction they had gone, after which the accused returned and drove off with the BMW.
The State alleges the BMW was later sprayed with bullets as part of the cover-up, a claim supported by ballistic experts who found all 12 spent cartridges in one position, inconsistent with a drive-by shooting.
After considering arguments regarding the Section 174 application under the Criminal Procedure Act, Judge Elsje-Marie Bezuidenhout ruled that the Madlala sons, Khumalo, and Nkosi have a case to answer for. She, however, acquitted them on the ninth charge of perjury.
“Reasons for my ruling will be provided during judgment,” she said.
Meanwhile, the father, former mayor Vincent Madlala, and his daughter Sinazo Madlala, appeared at the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on charges of unlawful possession of six firearms.
After the Madlala brothers were dismissed, they went to support their father and sister at the Magistrate's Court.
Following the ruling, the murder accused informed the court they would not be testifying or calling any witnesses, effectively closing their case. The matter has been postponed to next week for the closing arguments.