Jealousy and a love triangle were suggested as possible motives for the killing of three people and the injuring of another during Easter weekend last year, the Pietermaritzburg High Court heard yesterday, as Judge Siphokazi Jikela began handing down judgment in the trial of Thabiso Dladla-Zondi.

According to The Witness, he is accused of killing three people and injuring another.

Threatening call before shootings

During proceedings, one witness testified that he had received a phone call identified by the Truecaller app as coming from Zondi. The caller allegedly threatened him, saying: “If you want to forcefully take my girlfriend, you will see.”

“A few minutes after the call, when the witness had stepped away from his vehicle and was approaching his home in the Pietermaritzburg CBD, he heard multiple gunshots.

“When he returned to his car, where the deceased and Bhengu were, he found them lying with gunshot wounds,” Jikela read from the judgment.

Charges and incident details

Dladla-Zondi faces charges of murdering Sphamandla Lungisani Mkhize, Simbonge Nuthuko Msweli, and Sphamandla Ngubane, as well as the attempted murder of Nkosinathi Bhengu on March 30, 2024, near Langalibalele Street in Pietermaritzburg.

According to the indictment, on March 30, 2024, the three deceased and the complainant were drinking together while parked in a Nissan Almera on Langalibalele Street. At the time of the incident, they were in and around the vehicle.

“The accused, armed with a firearm, approached while cocking the weapon. As he reached them, he shot the first deceased and then proceeded to fire at the others, killing three and injuring the complainant,” the indictment reads.

Arrest and firearm recovery

Dladla-Zondi was arrested the same day at his homestead in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg. During a search of his house, police recovered a 9mm pistol with its serial number filed off, along with a live round.

Jikela is expected to continue handing down the judgment today.

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