Seven security guards were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and a further 35 years on Tuesday.

The guards were found guilty of murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property and defeating the administration of justice.

The crimes were committed in April 2018.

According to SAPS Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, the sentence came after the Durban High Court heard how the suspects murdered Christopher Mkhali Madondo (56) and assaulted his two sons.

“On April 27, 2018, Madondo was sitting with a male companion in a taxi on Brook Street in Greyville when they were shot by unknown suspects who fled the scene using a minibus taxi,” says Ngcobo.

He explains that the vehicle was spotted in Pinetown the same day and, when the suspects saw the police, they shot at them.

“They were later arrested at a business premises in Pinetown. Some of the suspects had disguised themselves as employees of that particular business,” says Ngcobo.

He adds during a preliminary investigation between April 26 and April 27, 2018, it was discovered that the same suspects had assaulted the deceased’s sons.

“The suspects made several court appearances until they were found guilty and sentenced on December 12, for murder, four counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, as well as defeating the administration of justice,” says Ngcobo.