Durban liquor business rivalry leads to murder charges against three men
Three men are set to go for their pre-trial conference at the Durban High Court for the three Mayville murders.
Image: File
Three men are set to go for a pre-trial conference at the Durban High Court for allegedly killing a competitor in their liquor business.
After this, they allegedly went to kill an uMkhonto weSizwe Party member, fearing that he might avenge the killing of their competitor.
The three men, Siphamandla Vulindlela Hlongwane, 41, from Ziyendane area in Mandeni, Ngcebo Treasure Luthuli, 33, from Mayville, and Thokozani Emmanuel Luthuli, 26, from Bhamshela, face 15 charges which include three counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstance, unlawful possession of firearms, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The State is alleging that on February 29, 2024, Hlongwane shot and killed his competitor, Titus Khethana Sosibo, in the morning. After shooting Sosibo, Hlongwane is alleged to have collected the spent cartridge from the crime scene and left with his accomplice.
Fearing that Mxolisi Peaceman Zungu, who was an active member of the MK Party, might avenge his friend's murder, Hlongwane sent Thokozani to kill Zungu in June last year.
Zungu was shot on the morning of June 5 while walking with his partner after they had dropped their child at a daycare centre in Mayville.
Additionally, the State alleges that Hlongwane and Ngcebo killed Khanyisani Ndlovu, who had come to buy liquor from Hlongwane.
The duo allegedly robbed Ndlovu of his wallet before shooting him on March 23, 2024.
'From February 2024 to March 2024, Hlongwane and Ngcebo unlawfully possessed a prohibited firearm, a 9mm Parabellum Calibre Pietro Beretta Model Pistol. The serial number or other identifying mark has been removed or changed without the written permission of the Registrar,' read the indictment.
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