A KwaZulu-Natal man initially hauled to court in connection with a spate of murders and attempted murders of University of Fort Hare officials has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for the theft of a Jeep.
The state dropped several charges against Mthobisi Dlamini, including the attempted murders of vice-chancellor Prof Sakhela Buhlungu and his deputy, Prof Renuka Vithal, and the murders of Buhlungu’s bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele, and fleet manager Petrus Roets.
Dlamini entered into a plea agreement with the state and pleaded guilty to the car theft charge.
He has been in custody since March 2023 after being arrested by the police task team in KwaZulu-Natal.
Neither investigating officer Detective-Sergeant Accasius Mokeona nor the car owner, Kuben Naidoo, had objections to Dlamini’s plea and sentence or the withdrawal of the other charges linking Dlamini to the Fort Hare attacks.
Dlamini, who has 11 previous convictions for housebreaking and theft and is serving a 24-year sentence, was convicted and sentenced in the Bhisho high court on Tuesday by judge Nozuko Mjali.
He admitted that on December 27 2022 in Berea, Durban, he stole a maroon Jeep valued at R160,000 belonging to Naidoo.
Dlamini said he understood the charges against him, and made his admission freely and voluntarily.
“I specifically admit that my actions ... were unlawful. I admit that I had no lawful right or reason to [commit the crime].”
After stealing the car from Naidoo’s home, Dlamini said, he drove to Waterloo where it got stuck in mud at a sports field.
He abandoned it and went home. The next day he hired a tow truck to pull it free.
“He successfully helped me, but wanted R1,500 for his services.
“I approached a Nigerian by the nickname of Heaven and offered him the stolen Jeep. He bought it from me for R3,500.
“I paid the truck driver his R1,500, and used the rest of the money to buy clothes for me and my girlfriend and my child.
“I was informed that the stolen vehicle was later used in the commission of a murder in the Eastern Cape and that my fingerprints were positively identified among others in the vehicle.
“I confirm that the prints retrieved belong to me, but I have no knowledge of the said crime or of any of the other people whose prints were found on the vehicle.
“I stole the vehicle in KwaZulu-Natal, and I sold it in KwaZulu-Natal.”
The car was reportedly sold on January 1 2023. According to the indictment, the Jeep was used during Vesele’s murder on January 6, five days later.
After Vesele was murdered, the hitmen abandoned the Jeep near the scene. A hit list was found in the boot.
The state, represented by state prosecutor advocate Louis Sinclair, said Dlamini’s offence was prevalent and serious.
Naidoo suffered a serious financial loss. Dlamini’s previous convictions did not rehabilitate him.
Dlamini’s defence team, led by attorney Bekabantu Nabela, argued that Dlamini pleaded guilty and took responsibility for his actions and his plea saved the inconvenience of a protracted, costly trial.
The remaining accused, who include several of the university’s former employees, are due in the Bhisho high court for trial on murder charges in September.
Daily Dispatch
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