Five men sentenced to life for mass murder at uMlazi's Glebelands hostel
Five men who gunned down eight people at Glebelands hostel in uMlazi have been sentenced to eight life terms each and an additional 15 years in prison, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in KwaZulu-Natal said on Thursday.
The Durban High Court handed down the sentences on Wednesday, following the men’s conviction for the mass shooting that took place in the early hours of June 3, 2023. According to police, at least 12 men were inside one room at the hostel when the gunmen stormed in and opened fire. Seven victims died at the scene, and an eighth succumbed to injuries in hospital days later. Four other men survived the attack.
Police said the convicted men Bongile Mabele, 35, Bongani Mboyiyane, 39, Sibusiso Manyisa, 41, Siyamthemba Mthwana, 41, and Nkosayikhethi Mjeza, 41, were arrested shortly after the incident by the Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit. A firearm recovered during the arrests was later confirmed through ballistic analysis to have been used in the killings.
Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba, welcomed the outcome of the case and commended the work of the investigation team.
“We are proud of the investigating team which ensured that justice was served. We are happy with the sentence handed down by the court because maximum sentences encourage investigating officers to continue putting criminals behind bars,” said Makoba.
Makoba emphasised the importance of such convictions in restoring public confidence: “Sentences of this nature bring hope to communities, in knowing that police are capable of solving complex mass murder cases.”
She added: “Community members do not want to see convicted criminals roaming the streets after they have been found guilty of crimes and sentenced.”
The Glebelands Hostel, a notorious hotspot for violence in the uMlazi area, has been the site of several deadly incidents in recent years.