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Picture of detainees handcuffed
A 37-year-old man has begun serving four life sentences for the murder of four people, including a traditional leader in KwaZulu-Natal.
Lindokuhle Mbatha was sentenced on Tuesday in the Madadeni Magistrate’s Court.
Evidence presented in court indicated that, in 2024, Mbatha entered the home of Lucia Mahlaba, a local induna. He shot and killed Mahlaba, her son, her son’s friend, and a neighbour who was inside the house at the time.
One person managed to escape and sought help.
Provincial police spokesperson Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirms the sentencing.
“The sentencing follows a brutal and senseless attack that occured at the Mahlaba homestead in 2024 at Madlangeni area under the Charlsetown policing precint. Mrs Lucia Mahlaba (42), who was a local induna, was fatally wounded. Her 22-year-old son Thando Mahlaba, her nighbour Mrs Shonaphi Mbhatha (50) and her son’s friend Ayanda Zikhali (19) also lost their lives during the attack. One person managed to escape the shooting and called for help. Some neighbours who came to assist were also shot at and they sustained injuries.”
#sapsKZN On Tuesday, 17/02, the Madadeni High Court sentenced Lindokuhle Mbatha (37) to 4 LIFE terms imprisonment for murder and a further 80 years’ in jail for cases of attempted murder, armed robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm. This was indicative of the sterling… pic.twitter.com/aVEkCJmrJp
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) February 18, 2026
