Empangeni Rail killers sentenced

Two men convicted of murdering two victims in separate attacks at Empangeni Rail were last week handed double life sentences each by Ngwelezana Regional Court.

Vumani China Nxumalo (36) and his co-accused, Mduduzi Zulu (34) were sentenced for the murders which took place in January 2023 and January 2024. Zulu was handed an additional six months for assault of a police officer.

In the 2023 incident, Njabulo Ndlovu (32) was with his friends at a tavern when an argument ensued between Ndlovu and Nxumalo, with Zulu joining in. Both Nxumalo and Zulu were armed with knives.

A security guard attempted to intervene and Ndlovu ran away, chased by Nxumalo and Zulu.

Ndlovu’s friends attempted to find him but reported the incident to the police when they failed to locate him. Two days later, his body was discovered in the bushes, with multiple stab wounds.

The following January, Senzo Mwandla was attacked by the two men while he was in his car outside an Empangeni Rail tavern. Once again, both men were armed with knives and Mwandla was stabbed several times. His car was ransacked, and his wallet and cellphone stolen.

Nxumalo and Zulu fled the scene but were arrested after a police tip-off led to their whereabouts. Mwandla’s items were found in their possession. During their arrest, Zulu attempted to stab one of the police officers.