Hitman gets life for killing teacher, pupil

Sibongiseni Mdakane was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg for gunning down Nquthu teacher and politician Vusi Ntombela and a young pupil.

Handing down sentence, Judge Vusumuzi Ntshangase described Mdakane as a greedy person prepared to do anything for money.

“He would not countenance anything standing between him and money – even if to reach the money he has to kill,” he said.

The unemployed Mdakane had confessed to shooting Ntombela four times in front of his pupils after he had been promised R15 000 for the hit by his co-accused, Mbhekiseni Kambule.

Mdakane told the court he had gone to the school on June 2 and pretended to be looking for a job.

Luvisi Primary School pupil Elizabeth Nhleko, 12, died in hospital following the shooting and another pupil, Bongimusa Cele, 12, had to be hospitalised.

Although Ntshangase accepted Mdakane had no previous convictions, he rejected the hitman’s submission of remorseful.

“The accused was motivated by his love of money and as such the court is unable to find any manifestation of remorse,” said the judge.

“In regards with the actual offence, no mitigation factors had been placed before this court.”

Ntombela was also the speaker of the Nquthu local municipality and among those in court yesterday were President Jacob Zuma’s wife, Thobeka Madiba, relatives of those killed and throngs of ANC supporters.

“People like him do not belong to our communities and I think the courts should be applauded for ensuring that those who killed are removed from society,” said Madiba.

Ntombela’s wife, Thembelihle, said although Mdakane had failed to shed light on the real reason her husband was killed, she was happy with the sentence.

“I believe they are much big players who were involved in his murder,” she said. “However, I am happy the sentence which the killer received will go a long way into ensuring that he does not continue to create havoc in society, particularly in school.”

Kambule is the bodyguard of Nquthu mayor Emily Molefe.

The accused was motivated by his love of money Judge Vusumuzi Ntshangase Handing down sentence on Sibongiseni Mdakane