Two families were shaken by a ruling in the Durban high court on Thursday when slain Mangosuthu University of Technology lecturer Chanlall Shan Dwarika's attackers were sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday.
Judge Khosi Hadebe sentenced Kwanele Makhaye, 29, and Thobani Mhlongo, 23, to life for the murder, 15 years for robbery and five for kidnapping. The sentences will run concurrently.
Siyabonga Freeman Mahaye, 35, was sentenced to five years for kidnapping and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances. Hadebe made no ruling on concurrency for Mahaye’s sentencing.
A fourth man, Sihle Mkhize, was acquitted on all charges.
Dwarika, 63, was kidnapped on May 28 in 2023 and later found dead. His body, according to police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda, was found on Mafuya Road in Inanda six days later.
Makhaye's mother Thuleleni, 59, who lives in Richmond Farm in KwaMashu, north of Durban, was reeling after the ruling.
“I was shocked by what he has been telling me whenever I speak to him in prison, but what I know is how alcohol had blinded him,” she said.
She said before her son could commit the crime he had informed her about visiting his cousin to go to a party.
“I don’t know how he ended up involving himself in such deeds. This took a toll on us as family, and his father died following his arrests in June. He never buried his father.”
It was not necessary to kill the accused as he offered no resistance. He attempted to get help from Reaction Unit of SA
— Judge Khosi Hadebe
She said two of Kwanele’s children, aged 12 and eight, live with her. She said both are without proper identity documentation and their mother isn't able to look after them.
Dwarika’s daugher, Ayuushi Rajbansi, said the trial had taken a heavy toll on the family, and while the sentence could not bring back her father, she was satisfied with the outcome.
“We will follow my father's footsteps of his love for education and kindness, but we will no longer be as trusting,” said Rajbansi.
She said they would also continue to pay tribute to him through his other passions that include music, literature and meditation.
According to the indictment, Dwarika owned a property in Sea Cow Lake while he lived on another property in Verulam, north of Durban.
Dwarika was renovating the Sea Cow Lake property as he intended to sell it to a tenant, identified as Pastor Miya. However, renovations were marred by the continued theft of materials.
Hadebe said Dwarika had opened a room for all the accused to stay at his second property, with the recommendations from Mahaye. He said Makhaye was less sympathetic.
“It was not necessary to kill the accused as he offered no resistance. He attempted to get help from Reaction Unit of SA,” said Hadebe.
She described the murder as barbaric and committed by those who felt money mattered more than life. She said the three deserved to be removed from society for a long time.
Their personal circumstances become unimportant when weighed against the gravity of the offences, she added.
"All the three accused's children do not need them to be their role model.”
Before the start of proceedings the three objected to media taking their photographs, but this was not entertained.
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