Ann Eveleth
NORTHERN KwaZulu-Natal National Investigation Task Unit head Mandlenkosi Vilikazi won his third murder conviction last week.
Induna Mandlengqondo Mathonsi and his uncle, Patrick Mathonsi, were sentenced last Friday to 16 years’ and 12 years’ imprisonment respectively by the Mtubatuba Supreme Court for the murder of two people in August 1995. They also received concurrent six-year sentences for two counts of attempted murder.
The convictions follow attempts by the Inkatha Freedom Party in May to have Vilikazi’s unit disbanded amid allegations he assaulted a suspect who later died in Eshowe Prison. Vilikazi was cleared of the charge by the Durban Supreme Court two months ago, but has fought hard to restore his authority over the unit amid successive IFP allegations.
In October 1995, IFP MP Hugh Lee alleged Vilikazi had “arrested or abducted” 14 IFP members, including the two Mathonsis and an Mlaba trainee, Dumisane Makhoba, who also faces charges in the same murder case but is reportedly at large after escaping from Eshowe Prison.
Lee also alleged Vilikazi had “arrested or abducted” Mandini hit-man Bheki Mlambo, against whom Vilikazi’s unit won two separate murder convictions in June. Mlambo was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment in one case for murder, aggravated robbery, rape and three counts of attempted murder. He received a 10-year sentence for a subsequent murder conviction.