KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Willies Mchunu has welcomed the confessions of a hired hit man, Mduduzi Kunene and that has led to the arrest of the second hit man and three other suspects suspected of conspiracy.
It is alleged that at about 22h00 on 24 October 2011, a business man, Bongani Thwala and his fiancé, Nokuthula Khanyile were killed at their shop in Bilanyoni in Dumbe, as they were getting ready to close. The hit men opened fire and shot them dead.
On Thursday, 17 November 2011 Kunene confessed at the Paul Pietersburg Magistrate court that he was hired to kill Thwala and his fiancée. Following his confession three other suspects who are believed to have masterminded the plot were also arrested.
Today, 21 November 2011 the Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Kunene to 40 years in prison.
MEC Mchunu welcomed the sentence. “This judgment should serve as a lesson to all those who are killing innocent people. Criminals have no space in our society and we must all work together to defeat them. I commend the police for the good work and thorough investigations on the case. I want to also make a special appeal to all those who are hired to kill other people to confess to the police before committing such crimes so that the conspirators can be dealt with by the law”, said Mchunu.
Media contact:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462 or 079 699 5755
Mchunu welcomes the 40 year sentence by Pietermaritzburg High Court
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