Nomonde Zondi|Published
He preferred that a man from Showe be sentenced, who did not go in to plead guilty to three murders of the same family.
Sicelo Dambayi Sikhakhane (31) from Mtilombo, Showe, was sentenced to three life terms by the Durban High Court on Tuesday.
This man is said to have shot and killed three members of the Mkhize family in April 2023.
His sentence came after his case was intervened by the National Intervention Unit (NIU), since he was doing something unusual, calling the Showe station police and threatening them since he was in hiding.
Sikhakhane is said to have tried to kill the entire Mkhize family with a bullet on the day of the incident as three escaped from the crocodile’s mouth and survived.
It is said that on the day of the incident, Sikhakhane and Ntuthuko Mthethwa, visited the Mkhize family in Mtilombo, to ask for his gun from his friend, Mr. Nduduzo Mkhize.
It turns out that they took him to the bedroom, which is where they came to look for a gun, and they didn’t have anything to do with it. It is said that when he did not take out his gun, they shot him.
It is said that when they left, they opened fire on all parts of the house, which is where Ms. Nopikhiwa Mkhize and her 14-year-old boy, Muzikayise Mkhize, died.
It is said that Ms. Zanele Mkhize, Ms. Sinothile Mkhize and Ms. Silindile Mkhize were also shot but survived.
After committing the crime, Sikhakhane and Thethwa fled on foot.
Mthethwa ended up crying about Sigonyela’s bracelets one day after the incident. His case was heard by the Mthunzini High Court, which sentenced him to four life terms.
Sikhakhane was eventually arrested by NIU in July 2024.
It is said that NIU followed him after he kept calling the Showe police while he was in hiding, threatening them that he would confuse them with the rain if they tried to arrest him.
When sentencing him, Judge Nokgere Masipa said he noticed that Sikhakhane denied three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, only admitting to possession of an illegal firearm.
Masipa also said that he noticed that Sikhakhane did not show any remorse. “To deny the charges and say he sympathizes with the Mkhize family, that is not remorse. The defendant has never shown any remorse,” said Masipa.
He insisted that he meant to commit these crimes, showed cruelty and failed to give a reasonable explanation for his actions.
“When the gun ran out of bullets, he reloaded some more and continued to shoot,” said Masipa.
He said that Sikhakhane’s circumstances, which is the first time he has committed a crime, he is a father of three children, are not proportionate to the weight of the crime he committed.
The court heard the testimony of those who survived the incident, who said that the chair is still in their minds, and that they are struggling to take care of themselves because of the injuries.
In addition to the three life sentences, Masipa also gave him 20 years for each of the three counts of attempting to kill the survivors, he was also given 15 years for possession of an illegal firearm, and five years for possession of ammunition.
He said he would serve his sentences concurrently, and decided he was not fit to have a gun again. After the sentence, Advocate Phumelele Daniso who is the defense lawyer from Legal Aid South Africa, told the court that Sikhakhane plans to challenge the court’s decision. He said his application is scheduled to be heard next week.