In a definitive ruling, the Cacadu High Court has sentenced five men to 31 years of direct imprisonment each for a brutal 2022 crime that resulted in the death of one victim. The sentences were handed down on Wednesday, 05 November 2025.
The convicted individuals are Nkosana Sandlana (41), Sivuyile Mlondolozi (39), Dumisani Kubayi (30), Luyanda Toto (39), and Thanduxolo September (41). They were found guilty on two counts of kidnapping, one count of murder, and one count of common assault. The court ordered that their sentences run concurrently, meaning each man will serve an effective 20 years in prison.
The case stemmed from an incident in June 2022, when the five men, who were part of a group of unregistered patrollers in the Ezibeleni area, stormed into the shack of 26-year-old Emihle Mrubata. They accused her of stealing a cellphone from her employer and demanded she hand it over.
After a search failed to locate the phone, the group assaulted and then kidnapped both Mrubata and her friend, 29-year-old Luzuko Mzinjana. The two victims were taken to an open field where they were subjected to a severe assault.
Tragically, Mzinjana succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the attack and was later pronounced dead at the Nomzamo Clinic in Ezibeleni.
Following an investigation, the five suspects were arrested and subsequently released on bail. Their case was ultimately transferred to the Cacadu High Court, where they were convicted in May 2025.
In delivering the final sentence, the court structured the penalties as follows:
-
For two counts of kidnapping: ten (10) years of imprisonment each.
-
For assault common: one (1) year of direct imprisonment each.
-
For murder: twenty (20) years of imprisonment each.
With the sentences ordered to run concurrently, the effective prison term for each of the five convicted men is 20 years.
