TWO of the three men who were involved in the murder of Durban lecturer Chanlall (Shan) Dwarika were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Durban High Court recently.

Thobani Mhlongo (25) and Kwanele Makhaye (32) were convicted of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and murder and were sentenced to five years for the kidnapping, 15 years for robbery and life imprisonment for murder.

Related story: Men appear in court for lecturer’s murder

Their co-accused, Siyabonga Freeman Mahaye (37), will spend 15 years in jail for robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years for kidnapping.

Dwarika was kidnapped from his rental property in Sea Cow Lake on May 28, 2023 where he was busy with renovations.  His body was found partially decapitated in the cane fields in Inanda a week later.

The court heard that Chanlall had asked Mahaye, Mhlongo and Makhaye to live on the property following a request from Pastor Miya who would be purchasing the property.

“Building material was going missing so this was done on condition that the accused would live rent-free on the property to safeguard the material while they assisted with the renovations. They also received some spending money on a casual basis. Despite the accused living on the property, items were still going missing so Chanlall asked them to leave on May 26, 2023,” said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, NPA regional spokesperson.

Read also: Decomposing body found in bushes in Cornubia

“He returned to his property on May 28, 2023 to complete  some repairs and install a security gate – that’s when the trio forced him into his vehicle and drove off. They forced him to hand over his bank card and to surrender his Pin, thereafter making several withdrawals and card payments. They then drove to a cane field in Inanda where they murdered Chanlall before setting his vehicle alight,” she added.

The victim impact statement, handed in by Advocate Krishen Shah, stated: “The deceased’s wife described her husband as a helping and giving person who was her pillar of strength. She said that he was her financial and emotional security. Following his demise, she has become anxious and tense. The deceased’s daughter said that the loss of her father has left her with a deep sadness and grief. She said that finding him six days after he was murdered has robbed her family of the opportunity of seeing him one last time.”

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