KWAZULU-NATAL – On Monday, 7 December 2020, the Scottburgh High Court convicted and sentenced Phakizwe Dlamini (35), Mnyamezeli Cele (30) and Cyprian Caluza (42) for murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
It was reported that in July 2015, members from Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Unit received information from Crime Intelligence about a person who wanted to sell a municipality Tractor Loader Backhoe (TLB) for R150 000 00. On 18 August 2015, an undercover operation was conducted and Dlamini was arrested whilst delivering the TLB.
His accomplices, Cele and Caluza, who were waiting somewhere not far from where the transaction was taking place, fled the scene on foot. The following day, Hawks members received information from the police that the body of a TLB operator was found in the sugarcane field with the TLB missing. The deceased’s hands were cable tied behind his back and he had gunshot wounds.
Investigation revealed that the three accused killed him and sold his TLB. Cele and Caluza were later arrested and charged accordingly.
Dlamini was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 17 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances. Cele and Caluza were both sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 12 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
