Former primary school teacher Zwelakhe Welcome Cele (36) was on Wednesday found guilty in KZN’s Mtubatuba High Court on charges relating to the 2019 kidnapping, rape and murder of Lwazi Tembe (12).

Lwazi disappeared on September 30, 2019, after being contacted by Cele, asking that they meet. Lwazi went to meet him at his home.
One month later, on October 29, his body was discovered in a shallow grave that Cele had pointed out to the police after his arrest.

The boy’s mouth was taped closed and his neck and hands were bound with rope.

Acquitted on six counts

Cele was acquitted on six other counts, namely the kidnapping, rape and murder of two other boys, Sizwe Mlambo (12) in 2016, and Sfundo Clifford Nkwanyana (13) in 2018.

Ahead of sentencing yesterday, the families of the latter two children said they were disappointed that Cele was found not guilty of these crimes, but welcomed his conviction for the crimes against Lwazi.

“We are happy he was convicted because it has been a difficult four years, with several delays, some caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Sfundo’s aunt, Bonisiwe Mthembu.

She said there were more questions than answers, as Cele opted to remain silent during the trial and not testify. Lwazi’s mother, Pretty Tembe, echoed this sentiment.

Tembe said she suspects Cele was not acting alone and had opted to remain silent during the trial because he was protecting the people he had been working with when carrying out the crimes.

She said that in light of the horrific injuries Lwazi suffered, according to the post-mortem report, she wants to know where his missing body parts were taken and for what purpose.

“I wish I could get a one-on-one with him so he can answer the many questions I have.”

Following the guilty verdict, Pretty and her sister Bonisiwe Mthembu said they wanted the death penalty to be reinstated.