TWO murder accused received maximum penalties for the murder of Sipho Mkwanazi, whose body was buried on top of another body in the Melmoth cemetery in March.
Mkwanazi’s body was exhumed from the grave on 27 May.
While investigating the case, police received this surprising information about the burial from a man whom they had arrested for housebreaking.
Siboniso Mese Dludla (27) made a confession to the Melmoth Magistrate on 29 May that he and three other men had hijacked Mkwanazi.
He died after being severely assaulted with an iron rod.
Melmoth police, together with forensic experts, then exhumed Mkanazi’s body.
On Monday, Dludla and a co-accused Simphiwe Cele (35) were both sentenced in the Mtunzini High Court to life imprisonment for the murder and 15 years for aggravated robbery of Mkhwanazi’s motor vehicle.
The case was withdrawn against a third accused.
Advocate Paver of the Public Prosecution office in Pietermaritzburg and the investigating officer, Captain Wilfred Dube, welcomed the stiff sentenced and the speedy sentencing.
Both accused are still facing charges of housebreaking and stock theft, which are still to be finalised.
