5 Men Receive Life Terms for Brutal Umlazi Hostel Murders

(The Post News)- On the 18th of June, 8 life sentences, with an additional 15 years, were handed down to the 5 men who were convicted for the murders that took place in 2023 at the Glebelands Men’s Hostel located in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. The men’s names are Siyathemba Mthwana, Nkosayikhethi Njeya, Bongani Mboyiyana, Sibusiso Mkhonde, and Bongile Mabele.

On the 3rd of June 2023, 8 men who reportedly lived in the men’s hostel were fatally gunned down as they casually socialized with each other. According to Natasha Ramakission-Kara, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, the deceased victims- Thamsanqa Shongwe, Mpilo Khumalo, Bongani Mkane, Lungani Sikhoni, Yandisa Msungubali, Mxolisi Mthethwa, Nkululeko Lukhozi, and Phakamani Lukhozi- and the convicts were all residents at the hostel.

Phakamani Lukhozi was reported to have been the block chairperson who supervised the hostel’s daily operations. Anyone who needed to be allocated to a room would be referred to him. However, Mabele, one of the convicts, wanted to be in control. Because Lukhozi refused to relinquish authority, he then conjured up a plan to “kill Phakamani and his friends”. Together with the other 4, Mabele armed himself and went into the room where Phakamani and his friends were and shot them.

During the court hearing, Ramakission-Kara called the actions of the 5 men ‘callous and brutal’, as they showed no regard for human life, neither for the 8 victims that they gunned down, nor for the 2 people who were left in ‘misery’ because of what they witnessed.