The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has welcomed the conviction and sentence handed down to the man who killed a mother and child in Tongaat late last year.
On 13 September 2018, the Durban High Court sentenced Bongani Bhamuza Gumede (30) to two terms of life imprisonment for the murders.
This sentence followed the discovery of the bodies of 23 year old Zinhle Ntuli and her daughter Snothile (5) who were found in a shallow grave at Desainagar Park Avenue in Tongaat. On 18 December 2017 a member of the community spotted blood on a pathway. He also suspected that someone was dragged into the bush. When he followed the blood trail into the bush he found what looked like a newly dug grave.
Police were immediately contacted and police officers from the Search and Rescue Unit were summoned to the scene.
Police officers made the gruesome discovery of the bodies of a mother and child with open wounds to their heads. Charges of murder were opened at Tongaat SAPS and a thorough investigation followed. Investigations revealed that the accused killed his victims with a hammer before he buried their bodies in a shallow grave.
Although the accused went into hiding, he was traced and ultimately arrested in Jozini on 31 December 2017. Following his arrest he made several court appearances. His bail was successfully opposed and he remained in custody until he was sentenced.
“We wish to commend Detective Sergeant Pinky Mazwayi from Tongaat SAPS for working tirelessly to ensure that the suspect is arrested and placed before court in a short space of time after the bodies were discovered. His hard work and dedication in putting together a well investigated case before court contributed to the suspect being convicted. We are pleased that this cold blooded killer is behind bars where he belongs and will not be able to harm any more women and children in our province,” said Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi.
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