Now eight hostel ‘hitmen’ face trial
ANOTHER CHARGED: 19 MURDERS, ATTEMPTED MURDERS
State alleges they killed Glebelands residents to get control of hostel and its income.
Former security guard Bongani Mbhele has been added to the list of alleged hitmen operating in Umlazi’s notorious Glebelands Hostel complex. The Durban Regional Court heard yesterday that Mbhele’s name would be added to the list of the so-called “Glebelands Seven”. All the men are being charged under the legal doctrine of common purpose for crimes that include 19 counts of murder and attempted murder, which allegedly took place at the hostel between August 19, 2014 and March 26, 2016.
Magistrate Siphiwe Hlophe was told that Mbhele had not appeared in court with his co-accused as the vehicle transporting him had not yet arrived. As soon it did, he would be added to the charge sheet.
Mbhele was arrested in Harding at the end of April. Police said he would be charged with the attempted murder of Fezeka Njiyelo at Glebelands in 2016 and two counts of murder for allegedly shooting dead residents William Mthembu and Thokozani Machi in 2015.
The other accused are Khayelihle Mbuthuma, Vukani Mcobothi, Eugene Wonderboy Hlophe, police detective Bhekukwazi Louis Mdweshu, Ncomekile Ntshangase, Mbuyiselwa Mkhize and Mondli Mthethwa.
The state alleges the accused conspired to form a syndicate with the common purpose to kill Glebelands’ residents in order to take control of the hostel and of payments made by hostel dwellers.
Mbuthuma was found guilty of murder under common purpose in April and was sentenced to life in jail. Mthethwa is also facing another murder charge. All the accused are in custody.
A trial date should have been set yesterday, but state advocate Dorian Paver said they were waiting for the outcome of an application to proceed from the National Prosecuting Authority.
Magistrate Hlophe said that at the suspects’ next appearance on June 29 a provisional trial date would be set “irrespective of whether the NPA has given the gohead”. – ANA