Daluxolo Mmeli Mazibuko
A 20-year-old man from Badplaas has been sentenced to an effective 25 years’ direct imprisonment by the Mbombela High Court for the brutal murder and robbery of a bread delivery driver on April 23.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, Daluxolo Mmeli Mazibuko pleaded guilty to the murder of Jabulani Dlangamandla and was convicted of both murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
The conviction stems from a tragic incident that took place on December 7, 2024, in Badplaas. Dlangamandla and his colleagues had just completed delivering bread to a local tuck shop when they were confronted by Mazibuko and two unidentified accomplices, who were armed and demanded valuables.
During the robbery, one of the suspects opened fire, fatally wounding Dlangamandla in the neck. His colleagues managed to escape unharmed, while the attackers fled the scene in different directions.
Community members later spotted Mazibuko, gave chase, and apprehended him before handing him over to the police. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of the deceased’s cellphone.
In court, Mazibuko entered into a Section 105A plea and sentence agreement with the State, which was accepted by the court. Senior State Advocate Mkhuseli Ntaba highlighted the alarming levels of violent crime, stressing that the victim was killed while serving the community.
The court sentenced Mazibuko to 25 years for murder and 10 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances. However, the robbery sentence will run concurrently with the murder sentence, resulting in an effective 25-year prison term.
The NPA welcomed the outcome, reiterating its commitment to ensuring justice for victims and holding perpetrators of violent crime accountable.
