High Court hands mother’s killer life sentence
Angered by being sent home he collected his firearm, returned to work and killed his supervisor who at the time had just finished her shift and was waiting for her transport home.
Security guard Sphelele Mdletshe has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his supervisor at King Shaka International Airport two years ago.
The Durban High Court heard on February 26 how Zandile Mkhize was brutally gunned down, apparently for disciplining Mdletshe for tardiness, in March 2018.
“On the day of the offence, Mdletshe was late to return from his break. Mkhize contacted their manager and reported this,” explained director of public prosecutions, Natasha Kara, adding that when Mdletshe was then asked to go home and return the next day.
Instead, angered by being sent home he collected his firearm, returned to work and killed his supervisor who at the time had just finished her shift and was waiting for her transport home.
Mdletshe fired 14 shots, 11 of which struck Mkhize, then walked to the police station and handed over his firearm. State advocate Khatija Essack showed the court video footage of the scene and ballistic evidence which linked Mdletshe to the killing.
The Court heard during sentencing how Mkhize’s son (23) and daughter (7) had been traumatised by their mother’s death.
He explained that his dream was to one day be able to work and take care of his mother. Mkhize was a single parent and the breadwinner of the family.
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