Manguzi murder accused plead guilty
Dladla was found with multiple stab wounds and both his hands tied up with rope
Two murder suspects accused of killing a 60-year-old man by stabbing him with broken bottles and slitting his throat, have pleaded guilty.
Thandebeza Mpanza (23) and his relative Velaphi Mpanza (27) appeared in the KwaNgwanase Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday for a formal bail application, but abandoned their application after pleading guilty.
They are accused of attacking Abel Dladla of the Mazambane area in Manguzi on 4 November at his home.
Dladla was found with multiple stab wounds and both his hands tied up with rope. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital the following day.
Reports indicate the pair posed as customers who wanted to buy cold drinks.
‘Abel was watching TV when the two men arrived at his home. He knew them as customers. They grabbed him, locked the door and forced a facecloth into his mouth before stabbing him and slitting his throat,’ said Dladla’s nephew, Sibonelo Mncwango.
‘This happened during the day. Bricklayers who were working on the premises could not hear anything as the radio and TV’s volume was very loud. When the bricklayers wanted to buy cold drinks they discovered the back door he used was locked and Dladla was nowhere to be found.
‘They approached a family member living next door, to ask him to get them cold drinks. Upon entering the house he found Dladla lying in a pool of blood.
‘They rushed him to Manguzi Hospital and on the way he identified the suspects,’ Mncwango said.
Scores of community members picketed outside the court to support the family.
