A man who killed four people at a birthday party in Emaqeleni in Imbali, KZN, two years ago was sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday.

Nkosinathi Mathobela (27) was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to four charges of murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Mathobela killed Lusanda Minenhle Zimu (23), Nontando Ndlovu (43), Thobelani Nduduzo Miya (23) and Zamokuhle Siyabonga Phungula (31). He also attempted to kill Sinenhlanhla Sanele Ntshangase and robbed them of their cellphones.

The incident took place on October 1, 2022.

According to Mathobela, he was ordered by a Pietermaritzburg prisoner to kill Ndlovu, who was an eyewitness in his case. In his plea, which was read in court by his attorney Amanda Hulley, Mathobela said he received a call from an awaiting trial prisoner in New Prison, Mongezi Nyathi, asking him to kill Ndlovu.

He had been with Andile Sabelo Memela Shezi when he received a call and they both agreed to carry out the hit and planned the murder telephonically with Nyathi.

Shezi has also since been arrested.

Mathobela further revealed that Nyathi instructed them where to fetch firearms and ammunition. He also instructed them to fetch a man known as Nhlakanipho at The Crossings, who was to accompany them to kill Ndlovu.

“When we arrived at 20:00 and parked a few houses away from Ndlovu’s home, Nyathi informed us that he was in contact with Lusanda Minenhle Zimu who was inside Ndlovu’s house. There was a gathering with a few people.

“The door was locked, however, Zimu was going to come out, so that the door will be unlocked and we will gain entrance when he returns into the house. We wore face masks. Sabelo and I took out the firearms and proceeded to the house,” he said.

He said they found Zimu outside; he knocked and the door was opened. They entered the house and pointed firearms at everyone and told them to lie on the floor. They complied.

“Sabelo went into the other rooms to look for Ndlovu since she was not with everybody in the main room.

“While I was pointing a firearm at the other people, Zimu kept getting up and refusing to lie on the floor like the others. I kept on warning him that I will shoot him but he refused to listen.

“I then got angry and shot him in the chest as he was trying to approach me. Nhlakanipho, who was standing outside the door entered and took seven cellphones.

“Sabelo came back and began shooting at three other people and we left.

“He then called Nyathi, informing him that he shot and killed Ndlovu in the bathroom,” said Mathobela.

He added that they gave Nhlakanipho three cellphones and sold four to a foreign national in Masukwana Street for R4 000, which they used to consume alcohol in Scottsville.

They stayed overnight in Scottsville after Nyathi informed them that there were a lot of police officers in Imbali following the incident.

Mathobela told the court that he is remorseful and is willing to testify against the other accused charged with these murders.