Life in jail for men who murdered taxi owner

Ernest Mabuza Journalist
Phumlani Mjaza, Musa Nelson Phahla and Sabelo Enoch Mdletshe were also convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Stock photo.
Phumlani Mjaza, Musa Nelson Phahla and Sabelo Enoch Mdletshe were also convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Stock photo.
Image: 123RF/Allan Swart

Three men were each sentenced to life and 10 years' imprisonment by the Mtunzini circuit court on Wednesday. They were convicted of murdering taxi owner Nduduzo Ntuli in Maphumulo, KwaZulu-Natal, two years ago.

Phumlani Mjaza, Musa Nelson Phahla and Sabelo Enoch Mdletshe, who is a relative of the deceased, were also convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Mjaza was sentenced to a further 10 years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm.

“The men knew the victim, Nduduzo Ntuli, owned a minibus taxi, which he used to transport school children.

“Ntuli used the vehicle for this sole purpose and did not belong to any taxi association. In June 2020, while Ntuli was parking the vehicle at his home in the Ndaba area of Maphumulo, he was accosted by the three men,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.

The men shot Ntuli in the head, then tried to remove his body from the vehicle so they could drive it away, she added.

Family members heard the noise, caught Mjaza and took the firearm.

Phahla and Mdletshe fled.  

“Mdletshe was easily identified and thus arrested, as he was a relative of Ntuli. Phahla was arrested after police received information about his whereabouts,” Ramkisson-Kara said.

TimesLIVE

Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.


Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.