Update: Taxi hit-man found guilty of bloody ‘October 11 Massacre’ which left 15 dead in Ladysmith’s ongoing taxi war
The hitmen were heard saying “We shot at the wrong people”, before they fled the scene
The hit-man responsible for the ‘October 11 Massacre’, which left 15 dead in two separate shooting incidents, appeared in the Ramsgate High Court on Wednesday (February 15).
30-year-old Themba Raphael ‘Kiniti’ Mvelase was found guilty in the Ramsgate High Court for the ambush killings of the ‘October 11 Massacre’.
Mvelase, known to many as ‘Kiniti’, was found guilty of 12 cases that include murder, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
Killer Mvelase was reported as being too sick to attend court during sentencing, resulting in his sentencing being postponed to Thursday (February 23).
Original story: Gunmen stop shooting when they realise mistake
Latest update: Update: MEC welcomes conviction of taxi hit-man in Ladysmith ‘October 11 Massacre’ for the mass murder of 15 people
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Mvelase killed the owner of a Mercedes-Benz, Mrs Thembekwayo Dlamini, who was accompanied by her family in October 2014. She was driving in a car similar to one owned by the hit-man’s target and he mistakenly opened fire on it, riddling it with bullets.
The driver was killed and other occupants of the Merc sustained injuries, including Mr Eugene Hlumka, Thabo Hlomuka, Sizwe Thembekwayo and Miss Hlengiwe Hlomuka. More than 30 rounds hit the car, and the deceased died on the spot.
A taxi travelling along the road when the gunmen opened fire lost control and collided with an oncoming truck, killing a further 8 people, including a 3-year-old-child.
The accused admitted in court that the victim was mistakenly shot because the hit-man thought they were taxi owners targeted to be killed. The hit-men were heard saying “We shot at the wrong people”, before they fled the scene. It was reported in the Ladysmith Gazette that he was heard saying “sorry”.
The same day, the hit-man made his way to a car wash in Ezakheni D-Section, where he shot and killed five people: Mr Sipho Mvelase, Osborne Mathebula, Sfundo Dlamini, Mlungisi Dlamini and Mr Sakhile Dlamini.
It has emerged that they were killed as a result of taxi violence between two families, the Mabaso and Gamede families.
This case had 39 witnesses. According to the evidence before the court, the murderer was seen by witnesses at both scenes. His fingerprints were found in the burnt car that he used to commit these crimes.
You may also be interested in further taxi war related stories below:
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