Seven men made a brief appearance earlier this week at the Durban High Court for allegedly  strangling an Uber driver and burning his body beyond recognition in dense bushes near Waterloo.. 

Siyabonga Xolani Mkhize, 19, from Marianhill, Ayanda Zulu, 25, from Marianhill, twins Wandile and Asanda Shange, 19, from Waterloo, Lindani Shezi, 21, from Verulam, Andile Mbhele, 20, from KwaNdengezi, and Luyanda Innocent Shozi, 20, from KwaNdengezi, face five counts. 

They are charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, murder, accessory after the fact, and theft. The State is alleging that on December 26, 2024, Zulu, Mbhele, and Shozi planned to rob 53-year-old Uber driver Zwakushiwo Dennis Zondi of his dark brown Toyota Rumion. 

The trio lured Zondi under the pretence of needing his services as an Uber driver; they all knew each other. On the morning of December 26, Zondi, as requested, arrived to pick up the trio together with two females. They directed him to the Oakland area in Marianhill to pick up a friend.

 “Zulu, who was sitting behind Zondi, strangled him and pulled him out of his driver’s seat,” the State said in its indictment. 

Additionally, Zulu is said to have taken over the vehicle and driven to Marianhill to pick up Mkhize. While driving, there, Mbhele and Shozi strangled Zondi until he died. 

After that, they went to fetch the Shange twins and Shezi. The twins and Shezi directed Zulu to drive in a bushy area in Waterloo. They all carried Zondi’s body, doused it with petrol, and set it alight. 

“The cause of death could not be ascertained due to charred human remains and an advanced state of decomposition,” the State said. 

The accused are also alleged to have taken the Toyota Rumion and sold its parts. They took Zondi’s cellphone with the value of R3,000, his Capitec bank card, and a Standard Bank card. 

The case was postponed to October 30. 

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za

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