Celani Sikhakhane
Two sons and three bodyguards of the Alfred Duma Local Municipality mayor in Ladysmith have been charged with three counts of murder.
Mayor Vincent Madlala and his daughter have also been arrested for defeating the ends of justice after he tried to stop the police entering his house. Illegal firearms and ammunition were discovered at his residence.
The mayor’s sons, Sabelo and Sbonelo, and three of his bodyguards are accused of murdering Mncedisi Dladla, Dima Dladla and Nompumelelo Thwala last year when the victims went to the mayor’s house to collect Mncedisi Dladla’s car.
The arrests have been made by an SAPS team specialising in political killings.
The victims were shot and killed two kilometres away from Madlala’s house in eZakheni township in August 2020.
Dladla previously worked for the mayor as a bodyguard and later became a member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The victims’ vehicles were found by the Hawks at Madlala’s house a week after the murders.
Sabelo and Sbonelo Madlala and the three bodyguards – Lethukuthula Khumalo, Thabiso Nkosi and Siyabonga Sikhakhane – were arrested earlier this month and later released on R10,000 bail each.
Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said the five suspects are expected to appear in court on Friday on three charges of murder.
He said the police were “still looking for another suspect who is still at large. His name is Madoda Shelembe and we have a reward of R20,000 for those who have information on his whereabouts.”
Image source: @ecr
