A man previously sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2018 murder of ANC councillor Sibusiso Maphumulo, Nkosingiphile Moses Gumede, was convicted by the Pinetown Regional Court on Wednesday morning for attempted murder and orchestrating violent robberies.

Gumede was sentenced in December 2022 for killing Maphumulo outside his Umlazi home in October 2018. 

The 9mm Girsan gun used in Maphumulo’s murder was also used in the attempted murder of Hopewell Themba Nteyi on May 25, 2018.

Gumede, Sthabiso Smangaliso Thusi, and Scelokwakhe Xulu were found guilty of the attempted murder of Nteyi.

The three men had a history of targeting individuals withdrawing large sums of money from ATMs. 

In a separate incident in October 2018, Linda Dennis Nxumalo was robbed of R24,000 in Pinetown and subsequently shot by Thusi and Xulu. The trio also assaulted and robbed Nteyi and Bridget Zungu of R13,000.

Magistrate Muntukayise Khumalo delivered his ruling, commending the State, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, for successfully demonstrating the trio’s involvement in the offences.

“The prosecution has discharged its onus of proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” Khumalo said. 

Magistrate Khumalo rejected the trio’s claim of being falsely implicated by the police and State witnesses.

He found it illogical that victims would falsely accuse the defendants or that police would plant a gun in a vehicle carrying Gumede and Xulu as passengers.

“There was nothing to gain for anybody in the police force by doing so. Such a suggestion is therefore rejected as false beyond a reasonable doubt,” the magistrate said. 

He said the State’s case against Xulu and Gumede was strengthened by their failure to testify in their own defence.

“One would have expected them to respond to such serious allegations against them.” 

Magistrate Khumalo highlighted the right of Xulu and Gumede to remain silent throughout the trial.

He commended the State witnesses for their credible and unwavering testimony during cross-examination.

Meanwhile, police officer Thulani Thango of Crime Intelligence faces sentencing in November for defeating the administration of justice.

Thango assisted former ANC councillor Mthokozisi Nojiyeza in evading arrest for several hours. Nojiyeza was sought by the Political Killings Task Team in connection with Maphumulo’s murder but was later acquitted.

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za

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