Four hitchhikers who turned on a 60-year-old man who offered them a lift – driving over the victim with his own bakkie and leaving him for dead – were sentenced by Pongola Regional Court recently.

Sphelele Khumalo (24), Sphamandla (Bhiya) Gazu (22), Khulekani Philimon (28) and Sthembiso ‘Mamfene’ Buthelezi (28) were all sentenced to 25 years for murder and 14 years for robbery, with the sentences to run concurrently.

A fifth man accused was acquitted of all charges.

The court heard how the victim, Davie Loram, stopped to give the hitchhikers a lift on the N2 near Impala in Pongola on 24 February 2024.

As they were heading to Madanyini, they knocked on the window indicating for Loram to stop – one of them pretending he wanted to alight from the vehicle.

When Loram stopped, they jumped off and turned on him, pulling him out of the car and assaulting him.

Khumalo got inside the bakkie and drove over the victim, who was lying on his back. He died at the scene.

The men then got inside the bakkie and drove away with Loram’s belongings, including his money, wallet, cellphone and bank cards.

A murder case was registered at Pongola SAPS, and the murder docket was assigned to Detective Sergeant Mlaba for further investigation.

Mlaba tracked down all five suspects the following day in Msuzwaneni, with one arrested at Deckville.

The men were denied bail, with the vehicle and cellphone recovered during the arrests.

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