Double life sentence for Mangwaveni, Tongaat murderer who left ex-fiancé and her mother riddled with bullet wounds

The gruesome details of how a mother and her daughter were shot dead in their home in the Mangwaveni area, near Tongaat, by the daughter’s ex-fiancé emerged in the Verulam Regional Court last Wednesday.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Natasha Kara said the NPA welcomed the double life sentence handed down to 56-year-old Muzi Radebe, who shot and killed Nombuso Dube, 30, and her mother Thokozile Dube, 73.

Regional court prosecutor Ishara Sewnarayan argued that since Radebe was found guilty of 2 counts of premeditated murder, he should be sentenced accordingly.

The court heard that Radebe and Nombuso shared a child and were living together.

“They were planning to marry in December 2018, but had an argument a few weeks prior to the event. He asked her to move out and she went to live with her sister, Hlengiwe Dube.”

On the day of the murders, Radebe unexpectedly arrived at Hlengiwe’s home to ask to meet with Nombuso.

He had a knapsack which contained a loaded firearm.

He also had a further 10 rounds of ammunition in his bag.

When Nombuso came out of the room, Radebe asked if they could reconcile,” Kara said.

When Nombuso refused, Radebe drew his gun and shot her several times.

She called out for her mother who rushed to help her and Radebe also shot her.

As Nombuso and her mother bled on the floor, Radebe stood over their bodies and fired several more shots.

“Both women were shot in the head, neck and chest. While they were lying on the ground, Radebe went to their bodies and finished all the ammunition on them.”

Radebe fled but turned himself over to the police 3 days later, in the company of his lawyer.

At the time, he alleged his actions were in self-defence, as Nombuso grabbed his gun from the holster.

In court testimony, Hlengiwe said that her house “looked like a cemetery” and that the images of the day of the shooting still flash through her mind.