The Durban High Court has sentenced Sanele Dlamini to two life terms in relation to an Umlazi mass shooting incident.
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The Durban High Court has sentenced Sanele Dlamini to two life terms for his role in a barbaric shooting spree that left eight people dead in Umlazi township, though he was convicted on only two counts of murder.
Dlamini originally faced eight charges of murder and four counts of attempted murder. The court heard that on May 16, 2025, Dlamini, his brother Lungelo, and their friend Secunda Msomi were attacked by community members in Umlazi who accused them of local robberies.
Lungelo died from his injuries that same day. Seeking vengeance, Dlamini and several accomplices armed themselves and tracked the community members to an informal settlement in Umlazi's U-section.
The group opened fire, killing Sbanisezwe Ngcobo, Lindani Ngcobo, Mduduzi Ntobela, Nkanyiso Khumalo, Vumakwenkosi Ndlovu, Sihle Shange, Thandiswe Madondo, and Mbalenhle Mjoko.
Four others — Ntokozo Mchunu, Siphokazi Mayeza, Mfanafuthi Dlamini, and Zamokuhle Mbube — survived the shooting with injuries.
Judge Nomfundo Sipunzi convicted Dlamini for the murders of Sbanisezwe and Madondo, and acquitted him on the other six murders. She further convicted Dlamini for the attempted murders of Mchunu, Mayeza, and Mfanafuthi.
Judge Sipunzi noted the prevalence of such violence in Umlazi, describing the conduct of Dlamini as violent and barbaric.
She referenced previous mass killings in the area, including the 2023 case of Siphamandla Dlomo, who received seven life sentences for seven murders.
She expressed concern that despite heavy sentencing by the High Court, senseless violence in Umlazi persists. “The law-abiding citizens in Umlazi are looking to the courts for protection.”
The judge observed that the victims were targeted together in an unexpected attack. Turning to Dlamini's personal circumstances, she noted that while the 28-year-old is young, his actions have effectively robbed his seven-year-old child of a father.
“As a parent, you were supposed to act responsibly and be a good example for your child,” the judge remarked.
Finding no exceptional circumstances to deviate from prescribed minimum sentences, Judge Sipunzi ruled that life imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence for Dlamini.
She sentenced him to two life terms for murder and 10 years for each attempted murder count. Judge Sipunzi also declared Dlamini unfit to possess a firearm.